The use of low-dimensional nanocomposites for photodegradation of pharmaceutical pollutants under visible light irradiation is an efficient and energy-saving technology. In this study, the hollow S, B-codoped g-C3N4 nanotubes with MnO2 nanoparticles as the core-shell type photocatalytic nanocomposites were fabricated for the visible-light-driven Z-Scheme photodegradation of pharmaceuticals in the presence of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). Boric acid and L-cysteine were served as the precursor for thermal polymerization of S, B-g-C3N4 nanotube (SBCN) at 550 °C for 4 h in N2, while the SBCN@MnO2 was successfully prepared at 160 °C for 6 h. The 100 – 200 nm MnO2 nanoplates can be homogeneously decorated onto the surface of SBCN nanotube surface to form flower-like SBCN@MnO2 nanocatalysts, which can effectively photodegrade diclofenac (DCF) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX). Addition of PMS significantly enhances the photocatalytic degradation efficiency and rate, and &gt; 99% of DCF and SMX is removed within 15 min under visible-light irradiation. In addition, the effect of environmental parameters including catalyst dosage, PMS concentration, initial pH, coexisting ions, and natural organic matters on the photodegradation efficiency and rate of DCF and SMX was investigated. The Mott-Schottky, scavenger, and electron spin resonance experiments confirm the production of reactive oxygen species and holes, and Z-Scheme mechanism for pharmaceuticals photodegradation over SBCN@MnO2 heterojunctions is clearly identified. Moreover, intermediates of DCF photodegradation were determined to identify the possible degradation pathways. Results clearly signify the superiority of SBCN@MnO2 heterojunctions as one of the promising photocatalysts to photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceuticals, which can be extended to fabricate low-dimensional photocatalysts for the photodegradation of a wide variety of pollutants in the contaminated water and wastewater under visible light irradiation conditions.

Hollow core-shell S, B co-doped C3N4＠MnO2 Z-scheme heterojunction for visible-light-driven photodegradation of pharmaceutical pollutants

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