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Volume 15
Issue 9
10.3390/catal15090819
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Article

Bandgap-Tunable ZnxCd1−xS Solid Solutions for Effective Photocatalytic Degradation of Norfloxacin Under Visible Light and Natural Sunlight

by
Xiang Wang
1,2,*,†,
Xidan Zhang
1,†,
Yifei Qu
1,
Tian Liu
1,
Juejing Luo
1,
Ting Long
1,
Liang Wu
1,
Chong Tian
1 and
Yu Hu
1,2,*
1
College of New Energy Materials and Chemistry, Leshan Normal University, Leshan 614000, China
2
Leshan West Silicon Materials Photovoltaic and New Energy Industry Technology Research Institute, Leshan 614000, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Catalysts 2025, 15(9), 819; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15090819
Submission received: 23 July 2025 / Revised: 19 August 2025 / Accepted: 26 August 2025 / Published: 28 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles for Photocatalytic Water and Air Remediation)
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Abstract

Due to its broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, norfloxacin (NOR) has been widely used over the past few decades. However, the residual NOR in aquatic ecosystems could pose risks to human health from bacteria with resistance genes that potentially cause serious infectious diseases. Herein, a series of bandgap-tunable ZnxCd1−xS (x = 0~1) solid solutions were hydrothermally synthesized and used for NOR photodegradation under visible light and natural sunlight. Benefitting from the suitable bandgap, band structure, and unique tetrapod shape nanostructure, the Zn0.1Cd0.9S solid solution exhibited the best photocatalytic activity, with high degradation efficiencies of 83.23% and 86.28% under visible light and natural sunlight, respectively, within 60 min, which is remarkable among reported ZnxCd1−xS-based photocatalysts and other materials. The in situ reactive-species trapping experiment revealed that holes (h+) were the primary species, and a possible photodegradation mechanism was thus suggested. Moreover, Zn0.1Cd0.9S also exhibited decent reusability and stability after five cycles of experiments. This work provides a comprehensive exploration of the application of bandgap-tunable ZnxCd1−xS solid solutions for NOR photodegradation under visible light and natural sunlight, demonstrating the promising application of as-synthesized Zn0.1Cd0.9S in the photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics.
Keywords: norfloxacin degradation; photocatalysis; ZnxCd1−xS; Zn0.1Cd0.9S; visible light; natural sunlight norfloxacin degradation; photocatalysis; ZnxCd1−xS; Zn0.1Cd0.9S; visible light; natural sunlight
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MDPI and ACS Style

Wang, X.; Zhang, X.; Qu, Y.; Liu, T.; Luo, J.; Long, T.; Wu, L.; Tian, C.; Hu, Y. Bandgap-Tunable ZnxCd1−xS Solid Solutions for Effective Photocatalytic Degradation of Norfloxacin Under Visible Light and Natural Sunlight. Catalysts 2025, 15, 819. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15090819

AMA Style

Wang X, Zhang X, Qu Y, Liu T, Luo J, Long T, Wu L, Tian C, Hu Y. Bandgap-Tunable ZnxCd1−xS Solid Solutions for Effective Photocatalytic Degradation of Norfloxacin Under Visible Light and Natural Sunlight. Catalysts. 2025; 15(9):819. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15090819

Chicago/Turabian Style

Wang, Xiang, Xidan Zhang, Yifei Qu, Tian Liu, Juejing Luo, Ting Long, Liang Wu, Chong Tian, and Yu Hu. 2025. "Bandgap-Tunable ZnxCd1−xS Solid Solutions for Effective Photocatalytic Degradation of Norfloxacin Under Visible Light and Natural Sunlight" Catalysts 15, no. 9: 819. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15090819

APA Style

Wang, X., Zhang, X., Qu, Y., Liu, T., Luo, J., Long, T., Wu, L., Tian, C., & Hu, Y. (2025). Bandgap-Tunable ZnxCd1−xS Solid Solutions for Effective Photocatalytic Degradation of Norfloxacin Under Visible Light and Natural Sunlight. Catalysts, 15(9), 819. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15090819

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