Synthesis of carbon-metal interface ilmenite type nanostructures using ultrasonication-assisted sol-gel process for visible-light-driven hydrogen production from methanol and antibiotic wastewater removal

In this study, a new carbon-metal (C-Ti) interface was synthesized by chemically connecting perovskite ilmenite-type (FeTiO) nanostructures with carbon produced from biowaste (BC) using a simple sol-gel process assisted by ultrasonication. This interface can use visible light to produce hydrogen from hydrocarbons (methanol solution) and remove the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIF) from wastewater. Following optimization, BC₁₅@FeTiO nanostructures displayed the highest visible light active photocatalytic hydrogen generation rate of 415.43 μmol·h⁻¹·g⁻¹. Furthermore, these nanostructures removed the CIF rate at 91.09 % for 120 minutes. The efficient electron transfer between BC and FeTiO via the chemically connected C-Ti interface promotes the formation of visible-light active photocatalytic hydrogen generation from methanol and the removal of antibiotic CIF into innocuous byproducts. This study also offers a new, low-cost carbon material made chemically from biowaste.