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Engineering an intimate BiOBr/g-C3N4 heterojunction with expanded graphite for enhanced photocatalytic antibiotic degradation.

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Title:	Engineering an intimate BiOBr/g-C3N4 heterojunction with expanded graphite for enhanced photocatalytic antibiotic degradation.
Authors:	Tan, Ye¹ (AUTHOR) tanye@csust.edu.cn, Wu, Xi¹ (AUTHOR), He, Guoliang¹ (AUTHOR), Li, Huilin¹ (AUTHOR), Zhou, Jie¹ (AUTHOR), Tong, Haixia¹ (AUTHOR), Yu, Linping¹ (AUTHOR), Zeng, Julan¹ (AUTHOR) jlzeng@csust.edu.cn
Source:	Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics. Jun2026, Vol. 37 Issue 18, p1-19. 19p.
Abstract:	With the advancement of the pharmaceutical industry and livestock farming, the increasing release of antibiotic-containing wastewater poses serious threats to both the natural environment and human health. Developing novel, efficient technologies to remove tetracycline from water is a critical priority. In this study, a ternary BiOBr/g-C3N4/EG composite was successfully synthesized via a one-step solvothermal method. Under optimal conditions, the composite achieved a tetracycline (TC) removal efficiency of 98.49% within 50 min of visible-light irradiation, with degradation rate constants 1.40 and 1.74 times higher than those of pristine BiOBr and g-C3N4, respectively. XPS analysis revealed that the introduction of EG effectively suppressed the photoreduction of Bi3+ to metallic Bi0, confirming that EG acts as an electron trap and establishes strong interfacial electronic interactions. BET analysis showed that the ternary composite possesses a specific surface area of 60.0 m2/g, which is significantly larger than that of BiOBr (28.9 m2/g) and g-C3N4 (37.1 m2/g), promoting active site exposure and pollutant adsorption. PL spectroscopy demonstrated a marked decrease in emission intensity for the ternary composite, indicating effective suppression of electron–hole recombination. Mechanistic studies, including radical trapping and EPR, identified ·O2−and h+ as the primary reactive species governing TC degradation. The enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic effects of EG: (i) its oxygen-containing functional groups anchor BiOBr and g-C3N4, preserving heterojunction integrity; (ii) it serves as an electron trap to accelerate charge separation; and (iii) it enlarges the specific surface area and provides a conductive network for rapid charge transfer. This work offers a feasible and innovative strategy for designing high-performance carbon-supported semiconductor heterojunctions for environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Engineering Source

Description
Abstract:	With the advancement of the pharmaceutical industry and livestock farming, the increasing release of antibiotic-containing wastewater poses serious threats to both the natural environment and human health. Developing novel, efficient technologies to remove tetracycline from water is a critical priority. In this study, a ternary BiOBr/g-C3N4/EG composite was successfully synthesized via a one-step solvothermal method. Under optimal conditions, the composite achieved a tetracycline (TC) removal efficiency of 98.49% within 50 min of visible-light irradiation, with degradation rate constants 1.40 and 1.74 times higher than those of pristine BiOBr and g-C3N4, respectively. XPS analysis revealed that the introduction of EG effectively suppressed the photoreduction of Bi3+ to metallic Bi0, confirming that EG acts as an electron trap and establishes strong interfacial electronic interactions. BET analysis showed that the ternary composite possesses a specific surface area of 60.0 m2/g, which is significantly larger than that of BiOBr (28.9 m2/g) and g-C3N4 (37.1 m2/g), promoting active site exposure and pollutant adsorption. PL spectroscopy demonstrated a marked decrease in emission intensity for the ternary composite, indicating effective suppression of electron–hole recombination. Mechanistic studies, including radical trapping and EPR, identified ·O2−and h+ as the primary reactive species governing TC degradation. The enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic effects of EG: (i) its oxygen-containing functional groups anchor BiOBr and g-C3N4, preserving heterojunction integrity; (ii) it serves as an electron trap to accelerate charge separation; and (iii) it enlarges the specific surface area and provides a conductive network for rapid charge transfer. This work offers a feasible and innovative strategy for designing high-performance carbon-supported semiconductor heterojunctions for environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	09574522
DOI:	10.1007/s10854-026-17781-0