Construction of Z-scheme heterojunction LaCoO3 modified ZnO for photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light irradiation

Abstract

The Z-scheme LaCoO₃/ZnO (LCZ) heterojunction photocatalyst was designed and prepared using the hydrothermal method. In the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride, LCZ exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity with a rate constant of 0.0179 ${min}^{-1}$,which is 3.2 and 2.3 times higher than those of pure ZnO and LaCoO₃, respectively. This study presents a promising approach with potential applications in the field of photocatalytic degradation. Further theoretical studies reveal that the existence of Z-scheme heterojunction can prevent the recombination of electron-hole pairs, leading to enhanced photocatalytic performance.