Photothermal-Assisted Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B Using Fe₃O₄/ZnIn₂S₄ Type-II Heterojunction: Mechanism...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Photocatalysis

Background:

• Wastewater pollution is a growing environmental concern.
• Efficient and sustainable treatment methods are urgently needed.
• Solar-driven advanced oxidation processes offer a promising solution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a solar-driven photothermal catalytic system for wastewater remediation.
• To investigate the degradation efficiency of Rhodamine B (RhB) using a Fe3O4/ZnIn2S4 type-II heterojunction catalyst.
• To understand the underlying mechanisms of the catalytic process.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of Fe3O4/ZnIn2S4 type-II heterojunctions.
• Solar-light degradation experiments with Rhodamine B (RhB) as a model pollutant.
• Electrochemical analyses to study charge separation and recombination.
• Density functional theory (DFT) calculations for mechanistic insights.

Main Results:

• The 2-Fe3O4/ZnIn2S4 catalyst achieved 99.4% degradation of RhB within hours under sunlight.
• The photothermal effect raised the solution temperature by 14.1 °C.
• Enhanced charge separation and suppressed electron-hole recombination were confirmed.
• DFT calculations elucidated the degradation pathway and mineralization potential.

Conclusions:

• The Fe3O4/ZnIn2S4 heterojunction is a highly efficient solar-driven photothermal catalyst for wastewater remediation.
• The system demonstrates robust applicability and significant environmental potential for degrading organic pollutants like RhB.
• This technology offers a sustainable and practical approach to solar-driven wastewater treatment.