Multiple-homojunction gradient nitrogen doped TiO2 for photocatalytic degradation of sulfamethoxazole, degradation mechanism, and toxicity assessment

In this work, by using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method, we incorporated nitrogen into the anatase TiO2 lattice to fabricate substitutional doped with different N content and film densities. All synthesized films were characterized in depth X-ray diffraction (XRD), reflectivity (XRR), photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force (AFM) UV–vis spectroscopy. next step, fully leverage band bending induced doping, a six layer multiple-homojunction gradient (g-N-TiO2) extend width of over bulk porous photocatalyst induce an oriented electrical field perpendicular substrate. Following its higher photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance, g-N-TiO2 prepared at 20 Pa columnar-like nanostructure was used for photocatalytic degradation sulfamethoxazole (SMX) antibiotic water under simulated solar light irradiation. The results showed that compared pristine non-gradient (N-TiO2), performance dramatically improved terms SMX removal percentage, kinetics (10 times than TiO2) detoxification solution. We believe superior potential PLD technique controlling density doping renders it highly promising towards fabricating unique multiple-homojunctions based on semiconductors. Besides treatment, such formed, precisely controlled, low interfacial defects will provide novel insights other applications as fuels, sensors, splitting, cells, etc.