Magnetic Co_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanoparticle-modified polymeric g-C₃N₄ sheets with enhanced photocatalytic performance for chloromycetin degradation

The visible-light and heterojunctional photocatalyst Co_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄/g-C₃N₄ (CN-CZF) was prepared for the first time in a hydrothermal route by adopting Co_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ and g-C₃N₄ as monomer. This synthetic method is simple and mild. The activity of the photocatalyst was evaluated by measuring the rate of the degradation of chloromycetin under visible light irradiation. Among the prepared photocatalysts, CN-CZF4 exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity, the reaction rate constant of which is 2.5 times that of pure g-C₃N₄. The increased photocatalytic activity of CN-CZF composites can be attributed to the formation of a heterojunction between Co_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ and g-C₃N₄, which suppresses the recombination of photoinduced electron-hole pairs. Meanwhile, the interface between g-C₃N₄ and Co_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ was very important for the photocatalytic activity as determined by comparative tests. A possible photocatalytic mechanism of the CN-CZF composite is proposed.