Poly Meta-Aminophenol (PmAP) as a Solid-State Electron Mediator in the Z-Scheme, Ag 3 PO 4 /CoFe 2 O 4 Heterojunction: Mineralization of Highly Concentrated Bisphenol-A and Reactive Dyes Water Pollutants.

This study demonstrated the effectiveness of poly meta-aminophenol (PmAP) as a solid electron mediator in the Z-scheme photocatalytic system for organic pollutants (viz. bisphenol-A and reactive dyes) mineralization and also illustrated how PmAP transported the photogenerated electrons from an O 2 -emitting photocatalyst (Ag 3 PO 4 ) to a H 2 -emitting photocatalyst (CoFe 2 O 4 ) enabling enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. The PmAP/Ag 3 PO 4 -CoFe 2 O 4 (PAC-10), was prepared by a two-step process and characterized by various analytical methods to assess the impact of PmAP on optical, photocatalytic, and electrochemical characteristics of the CoFe 2 O 4 (CFO)/Ag 3 PO 4 composite. The morphological investigation revealed that the PmAP sheet was nicely decorated with evenly distributed Ag 3 PO 4 and CoFe 2 O 4 particles. The M-S plot and impedance analyses were used to assess the electrochemical capabilities of the catalyst. Z-scheme charge transfer pathways were well supported by the radical trapping experiment and HRTEM analysis of Pt photodeposited PAC-10 photocatalysts during the photoreaction. Because of its magnetic nature and ease of synthesis, the PAC-10 offers an easily recyclable Z-scheme photocatalytic system that has the potential for purifying wastewater with high concentrations (up to 100 mg/L) of organic pollutants within 30 min of visible light exposition.