Effect of pH on the microstructure of β-Ga2O3 and its enhanced photocatalytic activity for antibiotic degradation

Jin Liu; Wei Lu; Qian Zhong; Hongzhang Wu; Yunlin Li; Lili Li; Zhenling Wang

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2018.02.070

Effect of pH on the microstructure of β-Ga₂O₃ and its enhanced photocatalytic activity for antibiotic degradation

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2018 Jun 1:519:255-262. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2018.02.070. Epub 2018 Feb 27.

Authors

Jin Liu¹, Wei Lu², Qian Zhong³, Hongzhang Wu¹, Yunlin Li³, Lili Li⁴, Zhenling Wang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Henan Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials, International Joint Research Laboratory for Biomedical Nanomaterials of Henan, The Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials and Applications, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou 466001, PR China.
² University Research Facility in Materials Characterization and Device Fabrication, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, PR China.
³ Department of Chemistry, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou 466001, PR China.
⁴ Henan Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials, International Joint Research Laboratory for Biomedical Nanomaterials of Henan, The Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials and Applications, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou 466001, PR China. Electronic address: lilili@zknu.edu.cn.
⁵ Henan Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials, International Joint Research Laboratory for Biomedical Nanomaterials of Henan, The Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials and Applications, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou 466001, PR China. Electronic address: zlwang2007@hotmail.com.

PMID: 29505987
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2018.02.070

Abstract

Semiconductor photocatalysis has become the focus of recent research on antibiotic treatment because it is a green and efficient technology. In this study, α-GaOOH with several novel microstructures has been synthesized at a low temperature and its subsequent thermal transformation. The influence of pH on the synthesis of α-GaOOH is studied, and the results indicate that pH played an important role in the microstructures of α-GaOOH and β-Ga₂O₃. All Ga₂O₃ samples possess macro-mesoporous network structures and exhibits a remarkable photocatalytic activity for antibiotic degradation. The photoelectron chemical tests show that the separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers of Ga₂O₃-7.0 is higher than that of other Ga₂O₃. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of Ga₂O₃-7.0 is mainly ascribed to its morphology and oxygen vacancy. The active species trapping and photoluminescence measurement experiments indicate that OH and O₂^- are the major active species contributing to the photocatalytic process. This study will bring about the potential application in treatment of the antibiotic pollutants.

Keywords: Ga(2)O(3); Metronidazole; Oxygen vacancy; Photocatalysis; Tetracycline.

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry*
Catalysis
Environmental Pollutants / chemistry*
Gallium / chemistry*
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Light
Metronidazole / chemistry
Microspheres
Oxidation-Reduction
Particle Size
Photochemical Processes
Surface Properties
Tetracycline / chemistry

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Environmental Pollutants
Metronidazole
gallium oxide
Gallium
Tetracycline