Integration of BiOI and Ag3PO4 nanoparticles onto oxygen vacancy rich-TiO2 for efficient visible-light photocatalytic decontaminations

• Published in: Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. A, Chemistry. Vol. 400; p. 112659
• Main Authors: Sedaghati, Nasrin, Habibi-Yangjeh, Aziz, Pirhashemi, Mahsa, Asadzadeh-Khaneghah, Soheila, Ghosh, Srabanti
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2020
• Subjects: p-n-n heterojunction; Photocatalytic water decontamination; TiO2-x/BiOI/Ag3PO4; Visible-light-induced photocatalyst; TiO2-x/BiOI/Ag3PO4; Photocatalytic water decontamination; p-n-n heterojunction; Visible-light-induced photocatalyst
• ISSN: 1010-6030; 1873-2666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2020.112659

[Display omitted] •Novel TiO2-x/BiOI/Ag3PO4 nanocomposites as efficient photocatalysts are reported.•The TiO2-x/BiOI/Ag3PO4 (10 %) nanocomposite exhibited the highest activity.•Activity was 44.3-folds greater than TiO2 in RhB degradation under visible light.•The nanocomposite displayed substantial activity in removal of different pollutants. To develop an impressive photocatalyst for purification of environmental contaminants, BiOI and Ag3PO4 nanoparticles were adhered on the oxygen vacancy rich-TiO2 (denoted as TOx )via a facile ultrasonic-assisted procedure to form TiO2-x/BiOI/Ag3PO4 (signify as TOx/BOI/APO) nanocomposites. Then, the physiochemical features of the nanocomposites were characterized via various techniques. It was discovered that the ternary photocatalyst with 10 wt% of APO demonstrates the greatest ability in elimination of RhB, which is almost 44.3, 4.12, and 2.18-folds premier than the bare TiO2, TOx, and TOx/BOI (20 %) materials, respectively. This excellent boosted photoability was ascribed to the p-n-n heterojunctions among the components, great visible-light absorption via BOI and APO semiconductors, and effective segregation of charges. An acceptable mechanism was also suggested through scavenging tests and the results of Mott-Schottky plots. This study displayed that the construction and rational design of p-n-n heterojunctions could be effective for extremely improving visible-light-induced photocatalytic performances for energy and environmental applications.