Preparation and application of ZnWO4/FeWO4 based photocatalyst: Organic pollutant degradation and microbicide

The overuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of resistant bacteria, posing significant threat to public health and the environment. In response, photocatalytic technology has gained attention as a promising solution for water purification and environmental sustainability. This research focuses on the synthesis of ZnWO₄/FeWO₄ composite through a hydrothermal method , aiming to enhance photocatalytic degradation of pollutants. The novelty of this work lies on the fabrication of a ZnWO₄/FeWO₄ composite that exhibits superior photocatalytic activity over pristine ZnWO₄ and FeWO₄ alone, particularly with a 15% FeWO₄ loading, which shows the highest degradation efficiency. Under visible light irradiation for 2 h, the composite has achieved over 86% degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl). The enhanced photocatalytic performance is attributed to the forming heterostructure , which promotes efficient charge carrier-pair separation, reduces electron-hole recombination, and generates a Fenton-like effect. Additionally, the antibacterial activity of the 15% ZnWO₄/FeWO₄ composite was significantly improved after 1 h of simulated sunlight exposure. These findings offer new insights into the design of sustainable nanomaterials for environmental and antimicrobial applications, with the potential for broad impact in addressing pollution and public health challenges. • ZnWO 4 /FeWO 4 -based photocatalysts are prepared. • The samples are prepared for organic pollutant degradation and as microbicide. • 15 % ZnWO 4 /FeWO 4 showed ∼86 % activity for tetracycline decomposition. • 15 % ZnWO₄/FeWO₄ improved antibacterial activity under sunlight exposure.