Preparation of defect-enriched (SiO32-, Cu2+) –α-Fe2O3/MoS2 Z-scheme composites with enhanced photocatalytic-Fenton performance

Construction of Z-scheme photocatalyst is of great attention. Herein, the (SiO32-, Cu2+) – α-Fe2O3 (SCF) with abundant oxygen vacancies (OVs) was obtained, and defect-enriched SCF/MoS2 direct Z-scheme composites were successfully prepared using a hydrothermal method. The composites exhibited higher photocatalytic-Fenton activity compared with single-component SCF and MoS2. The as-prepared SCF/MoS2-2 was found to be an effective visible-light-driven photocatalyst for p-nitrophenol (p-NP) degradation. Under the synergetic action of OV defects, photo-Fenton, and Z-scheme heterojunction, more active species were produced in the degradation system, thereby resulting in the rapid degradation of p-NP. •The (SiO32-, Cu2+) – α-Fe2O3 (SCF) with abundant OVs was obtained.•The defect-enriched SCF/MoS2 Z-scheme composites were fabricated.•The SCF/MoS2 degradation system could produce more active species.•The SCF/MoS2-2 composite exhibited the highest visible-light photocatalytic activity.