Synergistic role of in-situ Zr-doping and cobalt oxide cocatalysts on photocatalytic bacterial inactivation and organic pollutants removal over template-free FeO nanorods.

Herein, we synthesized in-situ Zr-doped FeO NRs photocatalyst by successive simple hydrothermal and air quenching methods. The synergistic roles of CoO (1 wt%) and Zr-doping on bacteria inactivation and model organic pollutants over FeO NRs photocatalyst were studied in detail. Initially, rod-like Zr ((0-8) %)-doped FeO NRs were produced via a hydrothermal method. CoO was loaded onto the Zr ((0-8) %)-doped FeO NRs) surface by a wet impregnation approach. The Zr-doping conditions and CoO loadings were judiciously optimized, and a highly photoactive CoO(1 wt%)/Zr(6%)-doped FeO NRs photocatalyst was developed. The CoO(1 wt%) loaded Zr(6%)-doped FeO NRs photocatalyst revealed 99.4% inactivation efficiency compared with (0, 4 and 8)% Zr-doped FeO NRs, respectively. After CoO(1 wt%)/Zr(6%)-doped FeO NRs photocatalyst treatment, Bio-TEM images of bacterial cells showed extensive morphological deviations in cell membranes, compared with the non-treated ones. Additionally, the optimum CoO(1 wt%)/Zr(6%)-doped FeO NRs photocatalyst exhibited 99.2% BPA and 98.3% orange II dye degradation after light radiation for 3 h. This work will provide a rapid method for the development of photostable catalyst materials for bacterial disinfection and organic degradation.