In-situ growth of C-F@CCS@ZIF8/67–1/1 photocatalysts with internal electric field and interfacial enhancement on cobalt-copper foam surface for simultaneous removal of ciprofloxacin and Cr(VI)

ZIF8/67–1/1 and CuCo2S4 were grown on the surface of cobalt-copper foam by in-situ growth method, and p-n heterostructures were formed by induction of internal electric field. The DFT calculation reveals that the energy levels near the Fermi level are gradually distributed continuously after ZIF8/67–1/1 and CuCo2S4 recombination, which accelerates electron conduction. Furthermore, the electron orbitals in the composite structure are reallocated and the electrical conductivity of the interface is improved. This strong interfacial enhancement promotes the transfer of photoexcited electrons and promotes the photoinduced separation of electron-hole pairs. Thanks to the surface oxygen vacancy and unique structure, C-F@CCS@ZIF8/67–1/1 composites can simultaneously achieve 97.2% ciprofloxacin (CIP) degradation and 96.5% Cr(VI) reduction. This catalyst does not require any recycling process and remains structurally stable during use with only a minimal amount of metal leaching. This work also reveals the mechanism of heterojunction formation between metal-organic frameworks and sulfides, broadening their application potential.