Synthesis of CdS-loaded (CuC10H26N6)3(PW12O40)2 for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under simulated solar light irradiation

Largely discharged and excreted medical pollutants pose huge threats to ecosystems. However, typical photocatalysts, such as the Keggin-typed H3PW12O40, can hardly degrade these hazards under visible-light due to their broad bandgap and catalytic disability. In this work, the visible light harvesting was enabled by combining macrocyclic coordination compound CuC10H26N6Cl2O8 with H3PW12O40, and the resulting CuPW was loaded with CdS to reach robust catalytic ability to totally detoxify medicines. We prepared the CuPW–CdS composites through a facile precipitation method, and it showed excellent photocatalytic degradation for degrading tetracycline under visible-light irradiation. The (CuC10H26N6)3(PW12O40)2 with 10 wt% load of CdS shows the highest performance and is ∼6 times more efficient than the pure CuPW counterpart. The heterojunctional CuPW–CdS composites promote the separation of electrons and holes, and consequentially enhance photocatalytic activity. Thanks to migration of electrons from CdS to CuPW, the photocorrosion of CdS is prohibited, resulting in a high chemical stability during photocatalysis. In this work we design a new route to the multi-structural composite photocatalysts for practical applications in medical pollutant decontamination.