The application of FTO-Cu2O/Ag3PO4 heterojunction in the photoelectrochemical degradation of emerging pharmaceutical pollutant under visible light irradiation

Babatunde A. Koiki; Benjamin O. Orimolade; Busisiwe N. Zwane; Oluchi V. Nkwachukwu; Charles Muzenda; Duduzile Nkosi; Omotayo A. Arotiba

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129231

The application of FTO-Cu₂O/Ag₃PO₄ heterojunction in the photoelectrochemical degradation of emerging pharmaceutical pollutant under visible light irradiation

Babatunde A. Koiki, Benjamin O. Orimolade, Busisiwe N. Zwane, Oluchi V. Nkwachukwu, Charles Muzenda, Duduzile Nkosi, Omotayo A. Arotiba

Chemical Sciences

University of Johannesburg

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

36 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report the photoelectrochemical application of a visible light active FTO-Cu₂O/Ag₃PO₄ photoanode for the abatement of sulfamethoxazole in water. The as-synthesised photoanodes were characterised using XRD, field emission SEM, EDX, diffuse reflectance UV–vis, impedance spectroscopy and chronoamperometry. The results obtained confirmed a successful formation of p-n heterojunction at the Cu₂O/Ag₃PO₄ interface. The highest photocurrent response of 0.62 mAcm⁻² was obtained for the composite photoanode which was four times higher than pure Cu₂O and about three times higher than pristine Ag₃PO₄. The photoanode gave 67% removal efficiency within 2 h upon its photoelectrochemical application in the degradation of sulfamethoxazole with 1.5 V bias potential at pH 6.2. The FTO-Cu₂O/Ag₃PO₄ electrode was also applied in the treatment of a cocktail of synthetic organics containing sulfamethoxazole and orange II dye. The photogenerated holes was found to be the major oxidant and the photoanodes was stable and reusable.

Original language	English
Article number	129231
Journal	Chemosphere
Volume	266
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129231
Publication status	Published - Mar 2021

Keywords

Photoanode
Photoelectrochemical degradation
Silver phosphate
Sulfamethoxazole
copper(I) oxide
p-n heterojunctions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Environmental Engineering
General Chemistry
Environmental Chemistry
Pollution
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Access to Document

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129231

Cite this

@article{0f5bfdd6b7d244e7b34963d236fe3f4d,

title = "The application of FTO-Cu2O/Ag3PO4 heterojunction in the photoelectrochemical degradation of emerging pharmaceutical pollutant under visible light irradiation",

abstract = "We report the photoelectrochemical application of a visible light active FTO-Cu2O/Ag3PO4 photoanode for the abatement of sulfamethoxazole in water. The as-synthesised photoanodes were characterised using XRD, field emission SEM, EDX, diffuse reflectance UV–vis, impedance spectroscopy and chronoamperometry. The results obtained confirmed a successful formation of p-n heterojunction at the Cu2O/Ag3PO4 interface. The highest photocurrent response of 0.62 mAcm−2 was obtained for the composite photoanode which was four times higher than pure Cu2O and about three times higher than pristine Ag3PO4. The photoanode gave 67% removal efficiency within 2 h upon its photoelectrochemical application in the degradation of sulfamethoxazole with 1.5 V bias potential at pH 6.2. The FTO-Cu2O/Ag3PO4 electrode was also applied in the treatment of a cocktail of synthetic organics containing sulfamethoxazole and orange II dye. The photogenerated holes was found to be the major oxidant and the photoanodes was stable and reusable.",

keywords = "Photoanode, Photoelectrochemical degradation, Silver phosphate, Sulfamethoxazole, copper(I) oxide, p-n heterojunctions",

author = "Koiki, {Babatunde A.} and Orimolade, {Benjamin O.} and Zwane, {Busisiwe N.} and Nkwachukwu, {Oluchi V.} and Charles Muzenda and Duduzile Nkosi and Arotiba, {Omotayo A.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2021",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129231",

language = "English",

volume = "266",

journal = "Chemosphere",

issn = "0045-6535",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The application of FTO-Cu2O/Ag3PO4 heterojunction in the photoelectrochemical degradation of emerging pharmaceutical pollutant under visible light irradiation

AU - Koiki, Babatunde A.

AU - Orimolade, Benjamin O.

AU - Zwane, Busisiwe N.

AU - Nkwachukwu, Oluchi V.

AU - Muzenda, Charles

AU - Nkosi, Duduzile

AU - Arotiba, Omotayo A.

PY - 2021/3

Y1 - 2021/3

N2 - We report the photoelectrochemical application of a visible light active FTO-Cu2O/Ag3PO4 photoanode for the abatement of sulfamethoxazole in water. The as-synthesised photoanodes were characterised using XRD, field emission SEM, EDX, diffuse reflectance UV–vis, impedance spectroscopy and chronoamperometry. The results obtained confirmed a successful formation of p-n heterojunction at the Cu2O/Ag3PO4 interface. The highest photocurrent response of 0.62 mAcm−2 was obtained for the composite photoanode which was four times higher than pure Cu2O and about three times higher than pristine Ag3PO4. The photoanode gave 67% removal efficiency within 2 h upon its photoelectrochemical application in the degradation of sulfamethoxazole with 1.5 V bias potential at pH 6.2. The FTO-Cu2O/Ag3PO4 electrode was also applied in the treatment of a cocktail of synthetic organics containing sulfamethoxazole and orange II dye. The photogenerated holes was found to be the major oxidant and the photoanodes was stable and reusable.

AB - We report the photoelectrochemical application of a visible light active FTO-Cu2O/Ag3PO4 photoanode for the abatement of sulfamethoxazole in water. The as-synthesised photoanodes were characterised using XRD, field emission SEM, EDX, diffuse reflectance UV–vis, impedance spectroscopy and chronoamperometry. The results obtained confirmed a successful formation of p-n heterojunction at the Cu2O/Ag3PO4 interface. The highest photocurrent response of 0.62 mAcm−2 was obtained for the composite photoanode which was four times higher than pure Cu2O and about three times higher than pristine Ag3PO4. The photoanode gave 67% removal efficiency within 2 h upon its photoelectrochemical application in the degradation of sulfamethoxazole with 1.5 V bias potential at pH 6.2. The FTO-Cu2O/Ag3PO4 electrode was also applied in the treatment of a cocktail of synthetic organics containing sulfamethoxazole and orange II dye. The photogenerated holes was found to be the major oxidant and the photoanodes was stable and reusable.

KW - Photoanode

KW - Photoelectrochemical degradation

KW - Silver phosphate

KW - Sulfamethoxazole

KW - copper(I) oxide

KW - p-n heterojunctions

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85097476331&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129231

DO - 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129231

M3 - Article

C2 - 33307414

AN - SCOPUS:85097476331

SN - 0045-6535

VL - 266

JO - Chemosphere

JF - Chemosphere

M1 - 129231

ER -