Photocatalytic Removal of Antibiotics on g-C₃N₄ Using Amorphous CuO as Cocatalysts

Amorphous CuO is considered as an excellent cocatalyst, owing to its large surface area and superior conductivity compared with its crystalline counterpart. The current work demonstrates a facile method to prepare amorphous CuO, which is grown on the surface of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) and is then applied for the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride. The prepared CuO/g-C₃N₄ composite shows higher photocatalytic activities compared with bare g-C₃N₄. Efficient charge transfer between g-C₃N₄ and CuO is confirmed by the photocurrent response spectra and photoluminescence spectra. This work provides a facile approach to prepare low-cost composites for the photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics to safeguard the environment.