Rationally designed a g-C3N4/BiOI/Bi2O2CO3 composite with promoted photocatalytic activity

Abstract

It is vital for environment purification to design and prepare an artificial photocatalyst that can effectively separate photogenerated carriers and maintain the redox ability of system. In this paper, a g-C3N4/BiOI/Bi2O2CO3 photocatalyst was rationally designed and successfully prepared via two-step in-situ transforming process. The results of X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and transmission electron microscopy confirm the successful synthesis of ternary g-C3N4/BiOI/Bi2O2CO3 catalysts. The photocatalytic activities of all catalysts were assessed by the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under simulated sunlight illumination. The g-C3N4/BiOI/Bi2O2CO3 catalysts showed much higher photocatalytic activities than single g-C3N4, or BiOI and dual g-C3N4/BiOI. The results of electron spin resonance and active species trapping experiments revealed that h+ and •O2− were responsible for the photodegradation of RhB, and a possible photogenerated carrier transport mechanism was proposed.