Development of a metal-free black phosphorus/graphitic carbon nitride heterostructure for visible-light-driven degradation of indomethacin

The development of affordable and efficient technologies for the removal pharmaceuticals personal care products (PPCPs) from water has recently been subject extensive attention. In this study, a black phosphorus/graphitic carbon nitride (BP-g-C3N4) heterostructure is fabricated as an extremely active metal-free photocatalyst via newly-developed exfoliation strategy. BP-g-C3N4 shows 11 times better decomposition rate representative PPCPs-type pollutant, indomethacin (IDM), compared to widely-used P25 TiO2 under real-sunlight illumination. Also, its visible-light activity even than that best photocatalysts previously developed, but only consumes 1/10–1/4 catalyst. results show BP performs cocatalyst-like behavior catalyze generation reactive oxygen species, thus speeding up IDM. addition, also exhibits excellent IDM efficiency in authentic matrices (tap water, surface secondarily treated sewage effluent). Large-scale application demonstration natural sunlight further reveals practicality real-world treatment operations. Our work will open new possibilities purely “green” environmental remediation applications.