Semiconductor photocatalysis technology is a simple, efficient, and low-cost method for environmental pollution remediation. As a promising photocatalyst for oxidative degradation, titanium dioxide (TiO2) demonstrates the capability to address energy shortages and environmental pollution issues. In this study, orange peel was used as the raw material to synthesize a (TiO2-CdS-C3N4-CDs) TCCC composite photocatalyst containing natural green carbon dots via a one-pot hydrothermal method for the first time. This catalyst was applied to the catalytic degradation of multiple dye molecules (Rhodamine B, Methylene Green, Reactive Brilliant Blue KN-R) and quinolone antibiotic (Ciprofloxacin, CIP) as well as tetracycline antibiotic (Tetracycline, THC). Meanwhile, it provides more adsorption sites for target pollutants and loads electron reservoirs (CDs) on the TCC surface, promoting the separation of photogenerated carriers in pure TiO2, thereby enhancing the visible light utilization and photocatalytic activity of the material. This work expands the application scope of semiconductor photocatalysis technology and TiO2-based photocatalytic active substrates.
Ma et al. (Mon,) studied this question.