Self-propelled nanojets an interfacial Schottky junctions modulated oxygen vacancies enriched for enhanced photo-Fenton degradation of organic contaminant: Improving H₂O₂ generation, Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ cycle and enhancing plant metabolism

The study reports an innovative approach on sunlit driven heterostructure photocatalytic generation of H₂O₂ and removal of cefixime. In the present work, we have fabricated Mn/Mg doped CoFe₂O₄ modified CaCr₂O₄ decorated by Ag₃PO₄ quantum dots (Ag₃PO₄ QDs), a p-n-p nano heterojunction. The study promotes the photocatalytic production of H₂O₂ and self-Fenton photocatalytic degradation of cefixime. Egg white-assisted synthesis of Mn-doped CoFe₂O₄ causes the lattice oxygen defect, which enhances the photocatalytic activity. Lattice oxygen defect enable the adsorption of O₂, which enable the conversion of •O² in the valence band of CoFe₂O₄ for the endogenous production of H₂O₂. The higher in the surface area enhance the photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. Mn-CoFe₂O₄-CaCr₂O₄-Ag₃PO₄ QDs enables the complete photocatalytic degradation of cefixime (99.9%) and the complete removal was determined by total organic carbon (TOC) removal and it was around 99.4%. Meanwhile the photocatalytic degradation pathway of cefixime was determined by LC-MS/MS. Reusability of the nano heterojunction was determined by six cycle test, and the reusability of the nano heterojunction was 99.8%. Further, the toxicity of the nanomaterial was studied in maize plant and the results shows that the nanoheterojunction enhances the maize growth. The study systematically reveals the robust activity of nano heterojunction for sustainable water treatment.