Earth-abundant insulator hydroxyapatite-based composite for full-spectrum photocatalytic degradation of 2, 4- dichlorophenol

Abstract

Insulator hydroxyapatite (HAp) was chosen as a candidate to construct full-spectrum photocatalyst. Glucose as a functional precursor was incorporated into HAp by coprecipitated method, and the glucose-modified HAp was then calcined under nitrogen atmosphere. With the loss of OH- group in HAp and the decomposition of glucose during the calcination, oxygen vacancies (OVs) for regulating the band gap, graphitic carbon (GC) as a good electron acceptor, and a channel for rapid carrier separation via the C-O-Ca forming between OV-HAp and GC can be simultaneously achieved. The as-prepared OV-HAp/GC displayed full-spectrum response and rapid separation of carriers. Moreover, it showed high degradation performance for 2, 4-dichlorophenol (2, 4-DCP), phenol, and tetracycline under visible, NIR, and full-spectrum. This strategy is not only facile, but also exhibits a certain universality. This work opens a new window for full-spectrum photocatalysts construction based on insulators, and large-scale production for practical use can be expected.