A flower-like heterojunction for highly photocatalytic treating oxytetracycline based on chrome-based metal-organic frameworks decorated BiOCl nanosheet

Abstract

The widespread use of antibiotics poses significant risks to both human health and the environment. Among various approaches, photocatalysis has emerged as a promising method for addressing the issue of antibiotic residues. BiOCl, a semiconductor photocatalyst, has attracted attention due to its distinctive structure. However, the limited light utilization efficiency of its ultraviolet light responsiveness remains a challenge. In this study, we developed a heterojunction by decorating BiOCl with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) MIL-100(Cr), referred to MIL-100(Cr)/BiOCl (MB), to efficiently treat the antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC) under visible light irradiation. Various analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, were used to verify the formation of the MB heterojunction. The interaction between MIL-100(Cr) and BiOCl in the MB heterojunction substantially enhances the responsiveness to visible light, increases the specific surface area, facilitates the separation and transfer of charged carriers, and ultimately results in a significant enhancement in visible light-driven photocatalytic performance for OTC degradation. This study explores the application of narrow/wide band gap nanomaterials-based nanocomposites in environmental remediation by constructing heterojunctions.