A facile synthesis of S-scheme TiO_2-x/FeTiO₃ heterojunction photocatalyst for multifunctional hazardous pollutants degradation

The design and construction of novel photocatalysts with superior photocatalytic efficiency for removing various pollutants from the environment are the primary goals of current research in the community. In this study, TiO_2-x/FeTiO₃ (T_OVFTO) heterojunction nanocomposites were fabricated via a simple hydrothermal method followed by calcination at 500 °C. The structural, optical, photoelectrochemical, morphological, and textural features of the as-synthesized materials were investigated through various techniques. The T_OVFTO-2 nanocomposites exhibited greater photocatalytic activity in elimination of malachite green (MG), fuchsine (FS), congo red (CR), cephalexin (CFX), and tetracycline (TC), which was almost 6.17, 8.37, 6.48, 8.53, and 4.62 folds greater than TiO_2-x (T_OV) and 10.0, 10.7, 12.3, 18.2, and 25.4 times superior than bare FeTiO₃ (FTO) photocatalysts, respectively. The results of the cycling degradation tests showed that the optimum T_OVFTO nanocomposite maintained high stability when utilized persistently for four cycles. Based on the outcomes, an S-scheme mechanism was proposed for T_OVFTO nanocomposites to effectively separate charge carriers. Furthermore, the biocompatibility test of the solution resulting from the photocatalytic elimination of TC pollutant was substantial. In light of the experimental results, the binary T_OVFTO photocatalysts can be considered as a beneficial material for environmental applications.