Construction of novel Ag/AgI/Bi4Ti3O12 plasmonic heterojunction: A study focusing on the performance and mechanism of photocatalytic removal of tetracycline

Abstract

As a result of the insufficient absorption of visible light, the application of Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ in the field of photocatalysis is limited. Ag/AgI was uniformly modified on the surface of the nanoflower bulb of Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ by simple precipitation method and photodeposition. The fabricated Ag/AgI/Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ obtained an ultra-high tetracycline (TC) removal rate under visible light irradiation. And the synergetic effects caused by the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of Ag, the photosensitivity of AgI and the p-n heterojunction are the key to improving the photocatalytic performance of materials. Besides, four plausible photodegradation pathways of TC were proposed and its intermediates were evaluated for toxicity, showing a significant decrease in toxicity after photoreaction.

Keywords: Ag/AgI/Bi(4)Ti(3)O(12); P–N heterojunction; Surface plasmon resonance (SPR); Synergetic effects.