Rational design of a novel LaFeO3/g-C3N4/BiFeO3 double Z-scheme structure: Photocatalytic performance for antibiotic degradation and mechanistic insight

[Display omitted] •A novel ternary LCB photocatalyst was rationally obtained using a wet chemical process.•The LCB showed an outstanding photocatalytic performance and stability for CIP degradation.•The scavenger tests as well as ESR techniques showed the role of reactive oxidative species.•Possible degradation pathways of CIP were proposed based on UPLC-MS/MS analysis.•The LCB nanocomposite holds a practical potential in the purification of real water matrix. A novel ternary symmetric double Z-scheme LaFeO3/g-C3N4/BiFeO3 (LCB) heterojunction nanocomposite was rationally obtained using a wet chemical process. The ternary system was confirmed by structural analysis and surface and morphological studies. This double Z-scheme photocatalyst showed an outstanding photocatalytic performance for ciprofloxacin (CIP) degradation compared to g-C3N4, LaFeO3, BiFeO3, and their binary nanocomposites. The enhanced photocatalytic activities were primarily derived from the improved light absorption capability, effective spatial separation, and prolonged charge carriers lifetime in the double Z-scheme system. In particular, the scavenger tests and electron spin resonance spectra demonstrated that •O2− and •OH are the primary oxidative radical species in the photocatalytic systems and confirmed the formation of the double Z-scheme structure. The possible degradation pathways of CIP were proposed based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry analysis. This study may open a new insight into the design and synthesis of highly efficient double Z-scheme photocatalyst for environmental decontamination.