Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (9): 100105.doi: 10.1016/j.actphy.2025.100105

• ARTICLE • Previous Articles     Next Articles

S-scheme heterojunction g-C3N4/Bi2WO6 highly efficient degradation of levofloxacin: performance, mechanism and degradation pathway

Menglan Wei, Xiaoxia Ou*(), Yimeng Wang, Mengyuan Zhang, Fei Teng, Kaixuan Wang   

  1. College of Environment and Resources, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian 116600, Liaoning Province, China
  • Received:2025-03-05 Revised:2025-05-09 Accepted:2025-05-12 Published:2025-07-04
  • Contact: Email: ouxiaoxia@dlnu.edu.cn (Xiaoxia Ou)
  • Supported by:
    the Liaoning Provincial Science and Technology Program Joint Plan(2023JH2/101800001); the Basic Scientific Research Fund of Liaoning Provincial Education Department(LJKMZ20220396); Dalian Science and Technology Talents Innovation Support Program(2024RQ056)

Abstract:

g-C3N4/Bi2WO6 (MCN/BWO) heterojunction photocatalysts were synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal method for the degradation of levofloxacin (LEV). Under simulated sunlight irradiation, the degradation rate of LEV by MCN/BWO with a molar ratio of 1 : 1 reached 98.14%, which was attributed to the formation of an S-scheme heterojunction between MCN and BWO. In situ XPS analysis and surface work function measurements confirmed that the electron transfer pathway follows the S-scheme heterojunction mechanism. The internal electric field (IEF) generated by the S-scheme heterojunction in the MCN/BWO system facilitates direct transfer of photogenerated electrons (e−) from the conduction band (CB) of BWO to the valence band (VB) of MCN. This process enables efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole (e−-h+) pairs, with h⁺ accumulating on the VB of BWO and e− accumulating on the CB of MCN. Free radical trapping experiments demonstrated that the superoxide free radical (·O₂−) and h⁺ were the primary active species. Besides exhibiting superior photocatalytic performance, the catalyst maintained excellent stability over three consecutive cycles. To elucidate the degradation mechanism, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis were employed to identify degradation pathways, intermediates, and potential toxicity. This study provides a theoretical foundation for wastewater treatment applications.

Key words: S-scheme heterojunction, MCN/BWO, Photocatalysis, Levofloxacin, Degradation pathway