A 2D/2D (ZnO/InVO4) heterojunction and its Z-scheme photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline and potassium butyl xanthate

ZnO is a highly functional material with outstanding physical and chemical properties. Coupling with a suitable material can overcome the limitations and enhance its performance. In the study presented here, ZnO was coupled with InVO4, an emerging material attracting research attention. The as-prepared ZnO/InVO4 nanocomposite was successfully tested for its quality and characteristics. Its catalytic ability was determined for the removal of tetracycline (TC), an emerging threat leading to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and potassium butyl xanthate (PBX), the most commonly used collector in mineral processing plants, whose residuals adversely affect the selectivity to recycle water and poses a serious environmental impact if discharged. The synthesized ZnO had a hexagonal wurtzite structure, whereas InVO4 had an orthorhombic crystal structure. Their composite was found to be a 2D/2D heterojunction of ZnO nanosheets and InVO4 nanoflakes with a band gap energy of 2.65 eV. The as-prepared composite could reduce the TC concentration up to 96.41% in just 80 min, whereas 98.87% of PBX was removed in 110 min. It proved to be highly efficient and stable under repetitive usage.