AUTHOR=Zhao Yue , Zada Amir , Yang Yang , Pan Jing , Wang Yan , Yan Zhaoxiong , Xu Zhihua , Qi Kezhen 

TITLE=Photocatalytic Removal of Antibiotics on g-C3N4 Using Amorphous CuO as Cocatalysts

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Chemistry

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/chemistry/articles/10.3389/fchem.2021.797738

DOI=10.3389/fchem.2021.797738

ISSN=2296-2646

ABSTRACT=<p>Amorphous CuO is considered as an excellent cocatalyst, owing to its large surface area and superior conductivity compared with its crystalline counterpart. The current work demonstrates a facile method to prepare amorphous CuO, which is grown on the surface of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>) and is then applied for the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride. The prepared CuO/g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> composite shows higher photocatalytic activities compared with bare g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>. Efficient charge transfer between g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> and CuO is confirmed by the photocurrent response spectra and photoluminescence spectra. This work provides a facile approach to prepare low-cost composites for the photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics to safeguard the environment.</p>