ZnCo2O4-ZnO S-Scheme Heterojunction for Photocatalytic Degradation of Cefalexin and Antimicrobial Properties

doi:10.1007/s40242-025-5089-6

Abstract

Abstract: To identify an efficient photocatalyst for the removal of Escherichia coli (E. coli) contamination, ZnO was sythesized via a hydrothermal method. A series of nanocomposites with varying mass ratios (ZnCo₂O₄-ZnO) was fabricated by anchoring ZnCo₂O₄ onto ZnO using an in-situ growth technique, with the objective of enhancing ZnO's photocatalytic performance. The resulting S-scheme heterojunction ZnCo₂O₄-ZnO materials were systematically characterized for their crystalline structures and photoelectrochemical properties, and evaluated for their of E. coli inactivation efficiency under visible light irradiation. The synthesized ZnO exhibited a hexagonal zincite phase, whereas ZnCo₂O₄ was confirmed to be a spinel phase. The enhanced light absorption and charge carrier transfer efficiency of ZnCo₂O₄-ZnO contributed to superior photocatalytic activity. The influence of the mass ratio of ZnCo₂O₄-ZnO on the antimicrobial performance was thoroughly investigated. At an optimal mass ratio of ZnCo₂O₄:ZnO=1:20, a maximum E. coli inhibition efficiency of 92.64% was achieved. Moreover, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of cefalexin (CEX) using 10 mg of 5%ZnCo₂O₄-ZnO reached 61.13%, representing a 43.97% improvement over the 17.16% degradation achieved with pristine ZnO. These findings demonstrated that the ZnCo₂O₄-ZnO composite exhibits markedly enhanced photocatalytic and antimicrobial activity compared to ZnO.

Key words: ZnO, ZnCo₂O₄, Photocatalysis, Antibacterial activity, Cephalexin (CEX) degradation

LU Junyu, LU Yunshu, Pitcheri ROSAIAH, LIN Shu, Zada AMIR, QI Kezhen. ZnCo₂O₄-ZnO S-Scheme Heterojunction for Photocatalytic Degradation of Cefalexin and Antimicrobial Properties[J]. Chemical Research in Chinese Universities, 2025, 41(4): 799-811.

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ZnCo₂O₄-ZnO S-Scheme Heterojunction for Photocatalytic Degradation of Cefalexin and Antimicrobial Properties

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