Electrochemical features of tetracycline oxidation on mechanoactivated g-C3N4/PrFeO3 nanocomposites

In this work, efficient and environmentally friendly electrocatalysts based on 2D nanocrystals of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) decorated with praseodymium orthoferrite (PrFeO3) nanoparticles were designed and synthesized for the efficient electrocatalytic treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater. Nanocrystalline g-C3N4 was obtained through the thermal polymerization of urea in air. Self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) was employed for producing PrFeO3. Subsequently, the nanopowders underwent ethanol-assisted mechanochemical treatment using a planetary ball mill. As a result, a series of samples was obtained with the PrFeO3 content ranging from 0 to 100 wt%. The resulting nanocomposites were dispersed in a solution of isopropyl alcohol with the addition of 0.5% Nafion; thereafter, the suspensions were applied to an ITO glass substrate to form electroactive thin films. The series underwent analysis using an X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, surface area and porosity analysis, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The influence of the g-C3N4 to PrFeO3 ratio on the electrochemical activity during the decomposition of tetracycline hydrochloride was analyzed. Consequently, an optimal ratio was determined, leading to the rapid and complete decomposition of the antibiotic in a neutral aqueous environment. In conclusion, it should be noted that the process of electrocatalytic decomposition of tetracycline hydrochloride has been comprehensively studied.