Simultaneous hydrogen production from wastewater degradation by protonated porous g-C3N4/BiVO4 Z-scheme composite photocatalyst

Inspired by organic contaminants acting as sacrificial agents to accelerate the photocatalytic H2 evolution, protonated porous g-C3N4/BiVO4 Z-scheme photocatalysts was prepared through simple one-step hydrothermal method for the degradation of ofloxacin (OFL) wastewater with simultaneously hydrogen production. The optimal g-C3N4/BiVO4 (HCN/BV-5) sample could degrade the OFL wastewater with a hydrogen yield of 80.7 μmol·g−1∙h−1, demonstrating the potential in protonated porous g-C3N4/BiVO4 Z-scheme photocatalyst synchronous photocatalytic degradation antibiotic wastewater and hydrogen production. By carrying out the free radical quenching experiments and electron spin resonance experiments, it proved that the ·OH and h+ radicals played the most positive roles in the simultaneous OFL antibiotic wastewater degradation and hydrogen production process. Meanwhile, the HCN/BV-5 also exhibited a significantly H2 evolution performance in different real-world water bodies and universal applicability to the degradation of antibiotics wastewater. This work presents a new idea for alleviating current energy crisis and addressing environmental problems.