Variable morphologies of Bi@BiOBr/ZnO coatings grown on plasma-treated nickel foam as high-efficient photocatalyst

Construction of heterojunction can inhibit the recombination of electron holes and improve the sunlight absorption, thus improving the photocatalytic performance of semiconductors. In this research, Bi@BiOBr/ZnO coatings are in-situ grown on nickel foam by a facile hydrothermal method. Before coating deposition the nickel foam surface is modified under different radiofrequency plasma atmospheres (O2, H2/Ar, Ar, CH4) in pulsed mode. The plasma treating effects on the coating morphology, crystallization, chemical and photocatalytic properties are investigated. It is found that various morphologies of Bi@BiOBr/ZnO coatings have been grown on the plasma-treated nickel foam surface by using the different plasma atmospheres. The polycrystalline structure including Bi, BiOBr and ZnO phases has been identified for the different coatings. The photocatalytic mechanism includes the SPR effect of metal Bi which can inhibit the recombination of electron holes and heterojunction structure of BiOBr–ZnO has good effects on the photodegradation performance of MO solution under visible light.