Pollutant degradation with mediator Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst in water: A review
Journal
Chemosphere
Journal Volume
282
Date Issued
2021
Author(s)
Abstract
The Z-scheme heterojunction is a photocatalyst with narrow band gap and sufficiently high oxidization and reduction powers for degradation of pollutants in waters. This review firstly summarizes the fundamentals of photocatalysis, and explains the need to develop Z-scheme heterojunctions to harvest energy from sunlight effectively. Secondly, contemporary reports of degradation wastewater pollutants, including organic dyes, antibiotics, and other chemicals are reviewed and discussed. A challenge in the selection of an appropriate Z-scheme for removing a specific pollutant is the lack of available energy levels that are offered by the catalyst and the lack of redox energy levels that are required to break down essential chemical bonds of the pollutants. With reference to the redox energy levels offered by the active photocatalytic species, the redox energy levels of specific pollutants studied in literature are estimated. Challenges and prospects concerning the use of the Z-scheme to degrade recalcitrant pollutants under irradiation by sunlight are outlined at the end of this review. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd
Subjects
Heterojunction; Organic pollutant; Photocatalyst; Redox energy
SDGs
Other Subjects
Bond strength (chemical); Energy gap; Heterojunctions; Organic chemicals; Photocatalysts; Water pollution; Water treatment; % reductions; Degradation of pollutants; Energy; Narrow bandgap; Organics; Oxidization; Pollutant degradation; Power; Redox energy; Wastewater pollutants; Organic pollutants; antibiotic agent; dye; water; coloring agent; water; catalysis; catalyst; degradation; detection method; pollutant removal; redox conditions; wastewater; wastewater treatment; water treatment; Article; catalyst; chemical bond; degradation; oxidation reduction reaction; photocatalysis; sunlight; water pollutant; catalysis; pollutant; wastewater; Catalysis; Coloring Agents; Environmental Pollutants; Waste Water; Water
Type
journal article