Issue 8, 2023

Photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid by immobilised ZnO nanoparticles using electrophoretic deposition

Abstract

This research represented the first study of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) decomposition using immobilized ZnO nanoparticles by electrophoretic deposition in photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis. Overall, considering process performance, application under visible light exposure, and cost-effectiveness, ZnO nanoparticles are highly promising for PFOA degradation. The effect of the probable production of sulfate radicals on PFOA photocatalytic decomposition over ZnO films was investigated by the addition of different concentrations of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). Notably, ∼42% of PFOA was decomposed within 2 hours (rate constant = 0.287 h−1) under UV irradiation in the presence of 0.27 g L−1 PMS. Importantly, the same amount of PMS initiated PFOA degradation under visible light exposure with the rate constant of 0.125 h−1. In photoelectrocatalysis, the optimal ZnO film demonstrated an excellent degradation performance of ∼49% within 2 hours at V = 0 (under UV irradiation). Overall, ZnO was highly promising in both photoelectrocatalysis and PMS-assisted photocatalysis, although PMS could enhance ZnO corrosion. In addition to the sulfate radicals, the photogenerated holes and superoxide radicals were among the main active species responsible for PFOA decomposition.

Graphical abstract: Photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid by immobilised ZnO nanoparticles using electrophoretic deposition

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
18 4 2023
Accepted
10 7 2023
First published
11 7 2023

Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2023,10, 1955-1965

Photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid by immobilised ZnO nanoparticles using electrophoretic deposition

A. H. Navidpour, J. Safaei, G. Zhang, A. Mojiri, B. Ni, Z. Huang and J. L. Zhou, Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2023, 10, 1955 DOI: 10.1039/D3EN00241A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements