Enhanced photocatalytic performance of recyclable 3D red phosphorus/sodium alginate aerogel composite

Hydrothermal treatment of red phosphorus/sodium alginate (HRP/ALG) aerogel photocatalyst with a 3D porous structure was prepared by simple injection and applied to remove water contaminants and deactivate Escherichia coli (E. coli). Ratio optimization experiments showed that the photocatalytic activity of HRP3/ALG (HRP: ALG = 3: 1) aerogel composite was optimal, and the κ values of Rhodamine (RhB) degradation and Cr(VI) reduction were 0.2667 and 0.0398 min−1, respectively. Furthermore, the photocatalytic antibacterial rate of the HRP3/ALG was 99.9 % in 40 min, and it remained above 96 % after five times cycling test to inactivate E. coli. Further mechanistic studies revealed that the enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to the appropriate amount of HRP particles uniformly distributed on the ALG support. This structure not only prevented the overgrowth and agglomeration of HRP, but also promoted the separation and transfer of the carriers and increased effectively the photocurrent density.