Influence of CoO surface passivation and Sn/Zr-co-doping on the photocatalytic activity of FeO nanorod photocatalysts for bacterial inactivation and photo-Fenton degradation.

Hydrothermal and wet impregnation methods are presented in this study for synthesizing CoO(1 wt%)/Sn/Zr-codoped FeO nanorod photocatalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants and deactivation of bacteria. A hydrothermal route was used to synthesize self-assembled rod-like hierarchical structures of Sn(0-6%) doped Zr-FeO NRs. Additionally, a wet impregnation method was used to load CoO onto the surface of photocatalysts (Sn(0-6%)-doped Zr-FeO NRs). A series of 1 wt% CoO modified Sn(0-6%)-doped Zr-FeO NRs were synthesized, characterized, and utilized for the photocatalytic decomposition of organic contaminants, along with the killing of E. coli and S. aureus. In comparison with 0, 2, and 6% Sn co-doped Zr-FeO NRs, the CoO(1 wt%)/4%Sn/Zr-FeO NRs photocatalyst exhibited an E. coli and S. aureus inactivation efficiencies (90 and 98%). A bio-TEM study of treated and untreated bacterial cells revealed that the CoO(1 wt%)/4%Sn/Zr-FeO NRs photocatalyst led to considerable changes in the bacterial cell membranes' morphology. The optimal CoO(1 wt%)/Sn(4%) co-doped Zr-FeO NRs photocatalyst achieved degradation efficiencies of 98.5% and 94.6% for BPA and orange II dye, respectively. As a result, this work will provide a facile and effective method for developing visible light-active photocatalysts for bacterial inactivation and organic pollutants degradation.