Perovskite-like photocatalyst, PbBiO2Br/PbO/g-C3N4: Synthesis, characterization, and visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity

Abstract

Abstract Lead bismuth oxybromide (PbBiO2Br) is a powerful perovskite-like semiconductor that can be used with visible light. PbBiO2Br is a perovskite-like photocatalyst that has recently received scholarly attention. Until now, scholars have not published studies regarding PbBiO2Br/PbO/g-C3N4-mediated crystal violet (CV) dye and 2-Hydroxybenzoic Acid (HBA) photodegradation under irradiation with visible light. The current paper reports the first composite isolation of PbBiO2Br/PbO/g-C3N4; characterization was realized through XRD, TEM, FE-SEM-EDS, HR-XPS, FI-IR, PL, BET, and UV-DRS. Photocatalytic efficiency observation proved that using PbBiO2Br/PbO/g-C3N4 produced the highest observed reaction rate, namely 0.1981 h−1. This derivation exceeded the derivations for the PbBiO2Br, PbO, g-C3N4 photocatalysts, and PbBiO2Br/PbO by 1.23, 34.2, 4.3, and 1.2 times, respectively. Four scavengers demonstrated quenching effects. The O2•− radical was critical to HBA degradation, whereas the •OH radical and 1O2 species played minor roles in the observed CV dye degradation. The present paper proposes and explains possible photocatalytic degradation mechanisms. This study's methods of PbBiO2Br/PbO/g-C3N4 synthesis and photocatalytic degradation of CV can be useful for future treatment of wastewater.