Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Chalcopyrite/Silver Phosphate Composites with Enhanced Degradation of Rhodamine B under Photo-Fenton Process

oleh: Shun-An Chang, Po-Yu Wen, Tsunghsueh Wu, Yang-Wei Lin

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2020-11-01

Deskripsi

A new composite by coupling chalcopyrite (CuFeS<sub>2</sub>) with silver phosphate (Ag<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub>) (CuFeS<sub>2</sub>/Ag<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub>) was proposed by using a cyclic microwave heating method. The prepared composites were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Under optimum conditions and 2.5 W irradiation (wavelength length > 420 nm, power density = 0.38 Wcm<sup>−2</sup>), 96% of rhodamine B (RhB) was degraded by CuFeS<sub>2</sub>/Ag<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> within a 1 min photo-Fenton reaction, better than the performance of Ag<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> (25% degradation within 10 min), CuFeS<sub>2</sub> (87.7% degradation within 1 min), and mechanically mixed CuFeS<sub>2</sub>/Ag<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> catalyst. RhB degradation mainly depended on the amount of hydroxyl radicals generated from the Fenton reaction. The degradation mechanism of CuFeS<sub>2</sub>/Ag<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> from the photo-Fenton reaction was deduced using a free radical trapping experiment, the chemical reaction of coumarin, and photocurrent and luminescence response. The incorporation of CuFeS<sub>2</sub> in Ag<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> enhanced the charge separation of Ag<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> and reduced Ag<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> photocorrosion as the photogenerated electrons on Ag<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> were transferred to regenerate Cu<sup>2+</sup>/Fe<sup>3+</sup> ions produced from the Fenton reaction to Cu<sup>+</sup>/Fe<sup>2+</sup> ions, thus simultaneously maintaining the CuFeS<sub>2</sub> intact. This demonstrates the synergistic effect on material stability. However, hydroxyl radicals were produced by both the photogenerated holes of Ag<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> and the Fenton reaction of CuFeS<sub>2</sub> as another synergistic effect in catalysis. Notably, the degradation performance and the reusability of CuFeS<sub>2</sub>/Ag<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> were promoted. The practical applications of this new material were demonstrated from the effective performance of CuFeS<sub>2</sub>/Ag<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> composites in degrading various dyestuffs (90–98.9% degradation within 10 min) and dyes in environmental water samples (tap water, river water, pond water, seawater, treated wastewater) through enhanced the Fenton reaction under sunlight irradiation.