S-Scheme α-Fe₂O₃/g-C₃N₄ Nanocomposites as Heterojunction Photocatalysts for Antibiotic Degradation

The residue of antibiotics in the water has led to increased antibiotic-resistant bacteria, harm to human health, and damage to health-beneficial healthy bacteria. An idea of constructing S-scheme α-Fe 2 O 3 /g-C 3 N 4 nanocomposites is studied toward a photocatalysis application for an efficient resolution of commercial antibiotics in wastewater. Outstanding S-scheme Fe 2 O 3 /g-C 3 N 4 nanocatalysts are synthesized by a straightforward method and could easily improve the recycling property, thanks to magnetic materials. Empirical results indicate that S-scheme Fe 2 O 3 /g-C 3 N 4 photocatalysts can degrade commercial cefalexin and amoxicillin (20 mg L –1 ) under visible light, with five and nine times higher performance than that of g-C 3 N 4, respectively. Furthermore, the detailed evidence to propose S-scheme Fe 2 O 3 /g-C 3 N 4 heterojunctions and comparison of photocatalytic performance in antibiotic degradation have also been mentioned in this study.