Poly Meta-Aminophenol (PmAP) as a Solid-State Electron Mediator in the Z-Scheme, Ag3PO4/CoFe2O4 Heterojunction: Mineralization of Highly Concentrated Bisphenol-A and Reactive Dyes Water Pollutants

Abstract

This study demonstrated the effectiveness of poly meta-aminophenol (PmAP) as a solid electron mediator in the Z-scheme photocatalytic system for organic pollutants (viz. bisphenol-A and reactive dyes) mineralization and also illustrated how PmAP transported the photogenerated electrons from an O₂-emitting photocatalyst (Ag₃PO₄) to a H₂-emitting photocatalyst (CoFe₂O₄) enabling enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. The PmAP/Ag₃PO₄-CoFe₂O₄ (PAC-10), was prepared by a two-step process and characterized by various analytical methods to assess the impact of PmAP on optical, photocatalytic, and electrochemical characteristics of the CoFe₂O₄ (CFO)/Ag₃PO₄ composite. The morphological investigation revealed that the PmAP sheet was nicely decorated with evenly distributed Ag₃PO₄ and CoFe₂O₄ particles. The M-S plot and impedance analyses were used to assess the electrochemical capabilities of the catalyst. Z-scheme charge transfer pathways were well supported by the radical trapping experiment and HRTEM analysis of Pt photodeposited PAC-10 photocatalysts during the photoreaction. Because of its magnetic nature and ease of synthesis, the PAC-10 offers an easily recyclable Z-scheme photocatalytic system that has the potential for purifying wastewater with high concentrations (up to 100 mg/L) of organic pollutants within 30 min of visible light exposition.