Construction of a ferroelectric material BiOIO3 photoelectrocatalytic anode by triboelectric-photo coupling effect for degradation of antibiotics

Abstract

Antibiotic, particularly from tetracycline derivatives, poses severe environmental and health challenges due to their stability, bioaccumulation, and resistance to traditional wastewater treatment methods. Advanced oxidation processes, including photocatalysis, offer potential solutions but are hindered by limitations like rapid recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. This study introduces an innovative photoelectrocatalytic system combining BiOIO₃ (BIO) with a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). BIO, with its unique ferroelectric properties and nanosheet morphology, enhances charge carrier separation and reduces recombination, achieving significantly improved degradation rates compared to conventional photocatalysts. TENG provides a sustainable power source by converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, modulating charge dynamics in BIO through band bending and alignment with its intrinsic electric field. The integration of TENG and BIO creates a synergistic effect, enhancing the generation of reactive species (RSs) and achieving degradation efficiencies 1.59 times higher than photocatalysis alone. The system demonstrates robust, scalable, and environmentally friendly performance, offering a promising solution for efficient antibiotic removal in water treatment applications.