Fabrication of Fe-doped UiO-66-NH2@b-TiO2 Z-scheme heterojunction for enhanced visible light-driven degradation of VSCs and antibiotics

Abstract

Volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) and sulfur-containing antibiotic wastewater are pervasive environmental pollutants that pose significant risks to atmospheric and aquatic ecosystems. Traditional photocatalysts often lack the versatility to simultaneously address multiple pollutants, highlighting the need for multifunctional materials. A novel FeUiO-66-NH₂@b-TiO₂ composite with a Z-scheme heterojunction has been developed as a highly efficient and tunable visible-light photocatalyst for the degradation of both VSCs and sulfur-containing antibiotics. The composite was synthesized through a one-pot hydrothermal method, and its photocatalytic performance was optimized by varying the ratio of FeUiO-66-NH₂ to b-TiO₂. The Z-scheme heterojunction facilitates effective separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers, significantly enhancing the material's photocatalytic activity. The material's structure and photoresponse were evaluated using XRD and FTIR. Under visible light, the composite exhibited remarkable degradation performance. For example, FU1T6 achieved complete degradation of CH₃SH within 20 min, while FU3T1 degraded 90 % of the antibiotic cefixime within 140 min. Moreover, the material demonstrated excellent degradation efficiency for other cephalosporins and amoxicillin, proving its broad-spectrum capability for sulfur-containing antibiotics. This study highlights the FeUiO-66-NH₂@b-TiO₂ composite as a promising candidate for the treatment of complex environmental pollutants, including odorous gases and antibiotic wastewater. The results suggest that material design, particularly the integration of the Z-scheme heterojunction, enables multifunctional pollutant treatment, contributing significantly to environmental protection and public health. These findings provide an innovative strategy for tackling diverse sulfur-based pollutants in environmental remediation.