Constructing AgI/BiSI p-n heterojunctions with an internal electric field for efficient degradation of refractory organic pollutants

• Published in: Arabian journal of chemistry Vol. 17; no. 7; p. 105844
• Main Authors: Liu, Jin, Zhong, Qian, Wang, Yanjin, Zhang, Zezhi, Zheng, Huiqin, Yan, Bin, Shi, Yurong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.07.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: AgI/BiSI; P-n heterojunction; Photocatalytic; Pollutant degradation; P-n heterojunction; Photocatalytic; AgI/BiSI; Pollutant degradation
• ISSN: 1878-5352; 1878-5379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2024.105844

Designing photocatalysts with p-n heterojunction structures is an effective way to boost the separation of photogenerated carriers and stimulate the photocatalytic degradation activity. Herein, an efficient visible-light responsive AgI/BiSI p-n heterojunction photocatalyst was successfully constructed. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and electrochemical measurements confirmed that the AgI/BiSI p-n heterojunction structure was beneficial to the separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers, promoting the generation of main active species (•O2− and h+). Furthermore, the photocatalytic degradation rate constants of Acid Red 1 (0.4699 min−1) and metronidazole (0.0730 min−1) over the optimal AgI/BiSI were about 8.4 and 3.0 times higher than those over pure AgI, respectively. This work provides a heterojunction engineering strategy to design high-efficient photocatalysts for the degradation of refractory organic pollutants.