Synergistic role of in-situ Zr-doping and cobalt oxide cocatalysts on photocatalytic bacterial inactivation and organic pollutants removal over template-free Fe₂O₃ nanorods

Herein, we synthesized in-situ Zr-doped Fe₂O₃ NRs photocatalyst by successive simple hydrothermal and air quenching methods. The synergistic roles of CoO_x (1 wt%) and Zr-doping on bacteria inactivation and model organic pollutants over Fe₂O₃ NRs photocatalyst were studied in detail. Initially, rod-like Zr ((0–8) %)-doped Fe₂O₃ NRs were produced via a hydrothermal method. CoO_x was loaded onto the Zr ((0–8) %)-doped Fe₂O₃ NRs) surface by a wet impregnation approach. The Zr-doping conditions and CoO_x loadings were judiciously optimized, and a highly photoactive CoO_x(1 wt%)/Zr(6%)-doped Fe₂O₃ NRs photocatalyst was developed. The CoO_x(1 wt%) loaded Zr(6%)-doped Fe₂O₃ NRs photocatalyst revealed 99.4% inactivation efficiency compared with (0, 4 and 8)% Zr-doped Fe₂O₃ NRs, respectively. After CoO_x(1 wt%)/Zr(6%)-doped Fe₂O₃ NRs photocatalyst treatment, Bio-TEM images of bacterial cells showed extensive morphological deviations in cell membranes, compared with the non-treated ones. Additionally, the optimum CoO_x(1 wt%)/Zr(6%)-doped Fe₂O₃ NRs photocatalyst exhibited 99.2% BPA and 98.3% orange II dye degradation after light radiation for 3 h. This work will provide a rapid method for the development of photostable catalyst materials for bacterial disinfection and organic degradation.