Enhanced peroxymonosulfate activation via La0.9Ba0.1Co0.5Ni0.5O3 with a near-infrared photothermal effect for antibiotics degradation

Abstract

Nowadays, the efficient degradation of antibiotics, as a class of environmentally persistent organic pollutants (POPs), is still a worldwide challenge. In this paper, we innovatively explored the application of photothermal heterogeneous Fenton-like systems for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation to degrade antibiotics under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. A series of novel perovskite-based photothermal catalysts (La_1−xBa_xCo_1−yNi_yO₃) were designed and prepared, and their optimal metal doping ratios (x < 0.2, y = 0.5) were determined experimentally. Taking the La_0.9Ba_0.1Co_0.5Ni_0.5O₃ as an example, the doping of metal ions significantly enhanced its NIR absorption and photothermal conversion. The enhanced photothermal effect realized the synergy between the thermal effect and catalytic activation, which improved the PMS activation efficiency of the La_0.9Ba_0.1Co_0.5Ni_0.5O₃ + PMS + NIR system and facilitated the efficient degradation of antibiotic pollutants (the degradation efficiency could be up to 99% in 10 min). Meanwhile, the Co and Ni bimetallic ion cycling system constructed by La_0.9Ba_0.1Co_0.5Ni_0.5O₃ also promoted a significant increase in PMS activation efficiency. In addition, the large specific surface area and abundant mesoporous structure of La_1−xBa_xCo_1−yNi_yO₃ prepared by the sol–gel method were also important driving forces for activation of PMS. La_0.9Ba_0.1Co_0.5Ni_0.5O₃ exhibited excellent PMS activation performance along with satisfactory stability and adaptability to a wide range of complex water bodies.