Z-scheme MIL-88A(Fe)/LaFeO3 heterostructured photocatalyst: Boosting photo-Fenton activity for enhanced organic pollutant detoxification.

A series of MIL-88A(Fe)/LaFeO3 were prepared by mechanical ball-milling method for boosted photo-Fenton ofloxacin (OFX) degradation under visible light irradiation. The optimized M160L40/photo-Fenton system accomplished complete degradation of 5.0 mg/L OFX within 10 min, attributed to synergistic enhancement of mass transfer efficiency and photogenerated carriers separation. Environmental adaptability was demonstrated through pH robustness (3.0-9.0), interference resistance to coexisting ions, and stable performance under natural sunlight in real water matrices, while 95.0 % activity retention after five cycles confirmed practical durability. Mechanistic investigations combining radical trapping, ESR spectroscopy, photodeposition, and DFT calculations revealed a direct Z-scheme charge transfer pathway between MIL-88A(Fe) and LaFeO3, enabling simultaneous preservation of strong redox potentials and efficient carrier separation. Biotoxicity assessment via bacterial growth inhibition assays showed significant reduction in ecotoxicity of degradation intermediates. This work establishes a new paradigm for designing MOF/perovskite hybrid systems in advanced oxidation processes while offering mechanistic insights into Z-scheme photocatalysis for environmental remediation.