ABSTRACT A Z‐scheme heterojunction composed of Bi 2 O 3 /Ni‐MOF‐74 was constructed for the degradation of tetracycline (TC) in aqueous solution. By modulating the Ni‐MOF‐74 content, the optical properties and photocatalytic activity of the BNM composites were optimized. BNM‐30 exhibited the highest performance, achieving 85.1% TC removal under visible light in 120 min and maintaining over 75% efficiency after multiple cycles. Characterization confirmed the successful formation of a heterojunction between Bi 2 O 3 and Ni‐MOF‐74, which facilitated the separation of photogenerated charge carriers and enhanced photocatalytic activity. Radical trapping and ESR tests identified •O 2 − as the main active species. LC‐MS analysis proposed three possible degradation pathways, with intermediates significantly less toxic than TC, indicating minimal risk of secondary pollution. This work provides a promising candidate for antibiotic wastewater treatment and offers insight into the design of Z‐scheme heterojunction photocatalysts.
Wan et al. (Sun,) studied this question.