Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• A novel core-shell MoS2/ZnO heterojunction was synthesized via a hydrothermal route, exhibiting enhanced piezoelectric-photocatalytic activity for tetracycline degradation. • The heterojunction achieved 91.2% purification efficiency of tetracycline hydrochloride with peroxodisulfate activation, and maintained 90.76% efficiency after five cycles, demonstrating excellent recyclability. • The synergistic piezoelectric effect and heterojunction interface facilitate efficient charge separation, leading to robust visible-light photocatalytic performance. • The study identifies dominant reactive oxygen species and degradation pathways, providing mechanistic insights for sustainable antibiotic wastewater treatment.
Abstract
Piezoelectric enhanced photocatalytic purification of polluted wastewater is currently one of the better strategies for environmental pollution control. This work proposes a novel and efficient approach for the purification of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) wastewater via core-shell MoS2/ZnO heterojunction activated by peroxodisulfate (PDS), where the MoS2/ZnO heterojunction was fabricated via a hydrothermal route. By exploiting the intrinsic piezoelectric properties of both MoS2 and ZnO, the heterojunction generates an internal electric field that facilitates the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, thereby accelerating the photocatalytic purification. Under the optimized conditions, the TC purification efficiency can reach 91.2% with the collaborative assistance of PDS activation, and the MoS2/ZnO heterojunction also exhibited excellent recyclability, maintaining a purification efficiency of 90.76% over five cycles. The MoS2/ZnO heterojunction demonstrated robust photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation and aeration, with the purification kinetics conforming to a pseudo-first-order model. And the purification pathways of TC were systematically investigated, and the dominant reactive oxygen species involved in the process were identified. This work elucidates the underlying piezoelectric-photocatalytic mechanism and provides a sustainable strategy for the efficient removal of antibiotic contaminants from aqueous environments, offering significant potential for practical environmental remediation applications.
1. Introduction
Photocatalytic technology, which drives the conversion and decomposition of pollutants with light, offers several compelling advantages: rapid reaction rates, low energy consumption, minimal environmental toxicity, and the exploitation of inexhaustible solar energy. These benefits render solar-driven processes among the most promising and sustainable strategies for remediating trace pollutants, particularly in light of the progressive depletion of fossil fuels. Yet a central challenge in environmental photocatalysis remains the swift recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, a process that markedly diminishes overall catalytic efficiency. To address this limitation, this experiment proposes constructing a MoS2/ZnO core-shell heterojunction on a ZnO scaffold to enhance photocatalytic performance.
ZnO is a wide-band-gap semiconductor renowned for its intrinsic photocatalytic activity; however, its large band gap confines light absorption to the ultraviolet region, which constitutes merely 5% of the solar spectrum, whereas visible and infrared radiation account for 43% and 52%, respectively. Moreover, ZnO suffers from rapid charge-carrier recombination, further curtailing its photocatalytic efficiency.
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YANG Chen-yu, YU Ting-ting, HE Yu-qi, LI Jia-jun, ZHANG Yong-hang, JIANG Ji-zhou (2026). Piezoelectric-enhanced photocatalytic purification of wastewater containing tetracycline via MoS2/ZnO heterojunction. Journal of Central South University. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-026-6231-4
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main innovation of this study?
The study introduces a core-shell MoS2/ZnO heterojunction that leverages the piezoelectric properties of both materials to create an internal electric field, enhancing charge separation and photocatalytic activity for tetracycline degradation.
How effective is the MoS2/ZnO heterojunction in purifying tetracycline wastewater?
Under optimized conditions, the heterojunction achieved 91.2% purification efficiency of tetracycline hydrochloride with peroxodisulfate activation, and maintained 90.76% efficiency after five cycles, demonstrating excellent recyclability.
What is the role of peroxodisulfate (PDS) in the purification process?
PDS acts as an electron acceptor, collaborating with the piezoelectric-photocatalytic process to enhance the generation of reactive oxygen species, thereby accelerating the degradation of tetracycline.
What are the dominant reactive oxygen species involved?
The study identified the dominant reactive oxygen species involved in the degradation process, which are crucial for understanding the mechanism and optimizing the system.
What is the practical significance of this research?
This work provides a sustainable and efficient strategy for removing antibiotic contaminants from aqueous environments, offering significant potential for practical environmental remediation applications.
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