Fabrication of InVO4/SnWO4 heterostructured photocatalyst for efficient photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light

N Sreeram; V Aruna; Ravindranadh Koutavarapu; Dong-Yeon Lee; M C Rao; Jaesool Shim

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2022.115191

Fabrication of InVO₄/SnWO₄ heterostructured photocatalyst for efficient photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light

Environ Res. 2023 Mar 1:220:115191. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115191. Epub 2022 Dec 29.

Authors

N Sreeram¹, V Aruna², Ravindranadh Koutavarapu³, Dong-Yeon Lee⁴, M C Rao⁵, Jaesool Shim⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physics, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Nagarjuna Nagar, Guntur 522 510, Andhra Pradesh, India.
² Department of Physics, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Nagarjuna Nagar, Guntur 522 510, Andhra Pradesh, India; Department of Physics, Bapatla Engineering College, Bapatla 522 102, Andhra Pradesh, India. Electronic address: vereddigariaruna@gmail.com.
³ Department of Robotics Engineering, College of Mechanical and IT Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: ravindra_physicist@ynu.ac.kr.
⁴ Department of Robotics Engineering, College of Mechanical and IT Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: dylee@ynu.ac.kr.
⁵ Department of Physics, Andhra Loyola College, Vijayawada 520008, Andhra Pradesh, India. Electronic address: raomc72@gmail.com.
⁶ School of Mechanical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jshim@ynu.ac.kr.

PMID: 36587724
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115191

Abstract

In the present study, novel InVO₄/SnWO₄ nanocomposites with different concentrations of SnWO₄ were successfully prepared using a facile hydrothermal technique and investigated employing a wide range of analytical methods for efficient photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline (TC). X-ray diffraction analysis showed the presence of the orthorhombic phases of both InVO₄ and SnWO₄ in the composite catalyst. Dispersion of SnWO₄ nanoplates over the InVO₄ nanosheets enhanced the synergistic interactions, improving the separation of charge carriers and their transfer. Furthermore, the formation of heterostructure expanded the absorption range and promoted visible light harvesting. The TC degradation efficiency of InVO₄/SnWO₄ nanocomposite (5 mg loading of SnWO₄) reached 97.13% in 80 min under visible light, with the kinetic rate constants 5.51 and 7.63 times greater than those of pure InVO₄ and SnWO₄, respectively. Additionally, the scavenger results proved that hydroxyl radicals and holes played a significant role in the photodegradation of TC. Furthermore, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and transient photocurrent response analysis showed enhanced e^-/h⁺ partition efficiency. Thus, the formation of heterostructure with strong synergistic interactions can effectively transfer the excited charge carriers and shorten the reunion rate. Accordingly, the InVO₄/SnWO₄ nanocomposites exhibited remarkable photocatalytic performance due to the increased number of charge carriers on the surface.

Keywords: Heterostructure; InVO(4); Photocatalysis; SnWO(4); Tetracycline; Visible light.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents* / chemistry
Catalysis
Light
Nanocomposites* / chemistry
Photolysis
Tetracycline / chemistry

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Tetracycline