In situ preparation of a Bi2O2CO3/BiOI with 2D/2D p-n heterojunction photocatalyst for water purification under visible light

Xiaoge Wu; Nan Qin; Lei Yan; Renlong Ji; Di Wu; Zhenhua Hou; Weihua Peng; Jianhua Hou

doi:10.3389/fchem.2022.1102528

In situ preparation of a Bi₂O₂CO₃/BiOI with 2D/2D p-n heterojunction photocatalyst for water purification under visible light

Front Chem. 2023 Jan 9:10:1102528. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2022.1102528. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Xiaoge Wu¹, Nan Qin¹, Lei Yan¹, Renlong Ji², Di Wu³, Zhenhua Hou³, Weihua Peng⁴, Jianhua Hou¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, , China.
² College of Materials Science and Engineering, Yantai Nanshan University, Longkou, Shandong, China.
³ Jiangxi Xinda Hangke New Materials Technology Co., Ltd., Nanchang, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Mine Water Resource Utilization of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Suzhou University, Suzhou, China.

Abstract

Introduction: Semiconductors have similar crystal structures and matched energy levels could form a coupled heterojunction at an interface between them which may allow response to visible light, achieving efficient decomposition of organic compounds. Methods: The Bi₂O₂CO₃/BiOI (BOC/BOI) with 2D/2D p-n heterojunction was prepared by one-pot room-temperature strategy. The prepared materials were tested by various technologies, and the three-dimensional structure, light absorption properties, electrochemical properties and other information were obtained. Photocatalytic tests have also been carried out. Results and discussion: BOC/BOI heterojunction with oxygen vacancies showed much higher photocatalytic activity than pure BOC and BOI. For example, the preferred BOC/BOI-0.5 heterojunction of the degradation rate for Rhodamine B (RhB) is 97.6 % within 2 h, which is 15.8 and 2.2 times faster than that of BiOI and BOC. In addition, the removal rates of tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and bisphenol A by BOC/ BOI-0.5 were 92.4, 80.3 and 68.6%, respectively. The 2D/2D structures of BOC/BOI-0.5 with rich in oxygen vacancies combined p-n junction can effectively inhibit the photoinduced electron-hole pair recombination and increase the production of active free radicals. The O₂- and h+ are the main reactants, giving the composite catalyst potential for degrading a variety of pollutants.

Keywords: Bi2O2CO3; BiOI; p-n heterojunctions; photocatalysis; water purification.

Grants and funding

This work was carried out by the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52100014), Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (No. ZR2019MEM025), Open Project Fund of Anhui Key Laboratory of Mine Water Resources Utilization (Suzhou University) (No. KMWRU202102), Yangzhou University High-end Talent Support Program and the “Qinglan Project” of Jiangsu Universities.