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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Mohamed MamloukORCiD, Professor Deqian Zeng
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© 2026 Elsevier B.V. Semiconductor photocatalysis harnesses solar energy to achieve H2 production and the oxidative degradation of antibiotic contaminants, offering viable solutions to energy scarcity and environmental pollution. However, developing visible-light-driven and dual-functional heterojunctions remains a considerable challenge. In this study, we synthesized 2D/0D Co3Se4/ZnSe nanocomposite photocatalysts using an in situ hydrothermal method, evaluating their efficacy for photocatalytic H2 generation and tetracycline (TC) degradation. The composites demonstrated significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance over individual ZnSe and Co3Se4. Notably, the CZ-0.10 composite, incorporating 10 mol% Co3Se4, achieved the highest H2 evolution rate of 1766 μmol·g⁻1·h⁻1 under visible light, a value roughly 17-fold that of ZnSe. Additionally, the TC degradation efficiency of CZ-0.10 reached 84%, significantly outperforming Co3Se4 (6%) and ZnSe (49%). Reusability tests indicated excellent stability for CZ-0.10 across multiple photocatalytic cycles. Furthermore, degradation pathway analysis and mung bean sprout toxicity assays demonstrated that TC was transformed into low-toxicity small molecules, leading to a substantial decrease in solution toxicity. Combined experimental results and density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed the formation of a Z-scheme heterojunction at the Co3Se4/ZnSe interface, which effectively facilitated charge carrier separation and enhanced redox capabilities, resulting in improved photocatalytic efficiency. This work presents an effective method for constructing metal selenide-based Z-scheme photocatalysts, demonstrating their promising potential for H2 evolution and antibiotic degradation.
Author(s): Liu Y, Liu H, Yu Q, Zeng Q, Mamlouk M, Zeng D
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Alloys and Compounds
Year: 2026
Volume: 1078
Print publication date: 25/07/2026
Online publication date: 06/07/2026
Acceptance date: 05/07/2026
ISSN (print): 0925-8388
ISSN (electronic): 1873-4669
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2026.189661
DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2026.189661
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