Work

Sulfur‐vacancy‐enriched ZnIn 2 S 4 rods for accelerated photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics via enhanced oxygen activation and charge dynamics

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The removal of persistent antibiotics from wastewater is a critical challenge for sustainable environmental remediation. Photocatalysis offers a promising solution, yet its efficacy is often limited by inefficient structural design and inadequate activation of molecular oxygen (O2). Here, we report a rod‐shaped ZnIn2S4 photocatalyst enriched with strategically engineered sulfur vacancies (Sv‐ZIS) that address these bottlenecks. The introduction of sulfur vacancies narrows the bandgap, enhancing visible‐light absorption and inducing defect levels that facilitate superior charge separation and transfer. These vacancies also boost the adsorption energy and chemisorption of O2 molecules, thereby catalyzing the production of superoxide radicals (˙O2−) with high efficiency. The rod‐like morphology further augments the adsorption and interaction of tetracycline molecules with reactive oxygen species (ROS), significantly enhancing photocatalytic degradation performance. Sv‐ZIS achieves tetracycline degradation rates nearly fourfold greater than its bulk counterpart (Bulk‐ZnIn2S4), underscoring its transformative potential. This work pioneers a novel structural and defect engineering strategy, advancing the development of high‐performance photocatalysts for tackling antibiotic pollutants in wastewater treatment.

Source: Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1002/jccs.70015

Authors: Salman Hayat, Khuloud A. Alibrahim, Syed Ul Hasnain Bakhtiar, Sharafat Ali

Institutions: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Chengdu University

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University