The development of energy-saving technology for the removal of emerging pollutants like pharmaceutical products are still a big challenge in the environment. The photoelectrochemical reaction using novel nanomaterials is one possible strategy for the effective degradation of pharmaceuticals and the production of H2 gas. Zeolite imidazolate framework (ZIF) is one kind of metal-organic frameworks, which has been used as photoelectrochemical materials for energy applications. Moreover, the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) by transition metal ions is one of the most commonly employed methods to produce more reactive species than OH radicals to enhance the photodegradation efficiency and rate of pollutants. In this study, a bimetallic Ni/Co ZIF-based dodecahedral material (BMZIF) was synthesized by the co-precipitation method and then used to activate PMS for simultaneously photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and hydrogen production. The as-prepared BMZIF shows its excellent PEC ability to activate PMS for complete degradation of SMX at initial pH 7 within 30 min. Effects of several parameters including pH, initial SMX concentration, and PMS concentration on the PEC photodegradation efficiency and rate of SMX are also investigated and optimized. Radical scavenging experiments confirm that OH and SO4- radicals are the primary oxygen reactive species to drive the SMX degradation and the photodegradation efficiency and rate can be retained at least 5 times. Along with the SMX degradation at the anode, H2 production is observed at the cathode. The superior catalytic performance of BMZIF is attributed to the distinctive internal structure and synergistic effect between ZIF and Ni/Co bimetals, which improves light absorption and charge separation efficiency, electron-donating density, and electrical conductivity. Moreover, the degradation pathway and possible reaction mechanism of SMX over BMZIF/PMS in the PEC system are also proposed. This study provides insight into the new way to treat polluted water and simultaneously produce green energy using bimetallic ZIF in a PEC system.

Enhanced photoelectrochemical degradation of sulfamethoxazole coupled with hydrogen production by peroxymonosulfate activation with visible-light-driven bimetallic Ni/Co ZIF

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