Rational integration of 3D-microlattice with ternary composite for recyclable efficient wastewater treatment

Conventional photocatalytic water treatment continues to suffer from low degradation rates, limited catalyst recyclability, and cross-contamination issues. To overcome these issues, we design and demonstrate a 3D-printed microlattice photocatalyst architecture coated with a ternary MXene-based composite. Our 3D microlattice composite achieves 99.5% tetracycline degradation under simulated solar irradiation, with a remarkable first-order rate constant of 0.169 min⁻¹, which is 3 times higher than that of benchmark P25-TiO₂ powder. Beyond tetracycline, the microlattice platform exhibits high photocatalytic efficiencies across multiple antibiotics and organic dyes. This superior activity arises from the synergistic effect of the microlattice structure and composite design, which extends the photoresponse from the UV to the visible region and improves charge separation and transport through the TiO₂/ZnO heterojunction, while MXene provides additional electron‑extraction pathways that help suppress charge recombination and enhance charge‑utilization efficiency. The conformal immobilization of the photocatalyst on the 3D microlattice effectively eliminates cross-contamination and ensures excellent recyclability, with no loss of activity over repeated cycles. This work establishes a robust, scalable photocatalytic framework that advances the design of next-generation photocatalyst architectures for solar-driven wastewater remediation. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.