Preparation of a p-n heterojunction 2D BiOI nanosheet/1DBiPO4 nanorod composite electrode for enhanced visible light photoelectrocatalysis

In this study, a 2D BiOI nanosheet/1D BiPO4 nanorod/fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) composite electrode with a p-n heterojunction structure was prepared by a two-step electrodeposition method. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and electrochemical testing were used to characterize its composition, crystal morphology, and optical properties. The BiOI/BiPO4/FTO composite electrode has higher photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) activity for the degradation of tetracycline than pure BiPO4 and BiOI. The PEC activity of the composite was 1.98 times and 2.46 times higher than those of the BiOI/FTO and BiPO4/FTO electrodes, respectively. The effects of the working voltage and BiOI deposition time on the degradation of tetracycline were investigated. The optimum BiOI deposition time was found to be 150 s and the optimum working voltage is 1.2 V. Trapping experiments showed that hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and superoxide radicals (•O2−) are the major reactive species in the PEC degradation process. The BiOI/BiPO4/FTO composite electrode has good stability, and the tetracycline removal efficiency remains substantially unchanged after four cycles in a static system. The reason for the PEC efficiency enhancement in the BiOI/BiPO4/FTO composite electrode is the increased visible light absorption range and the p-n heterojunction structure, which promotes the separation and migration of the photogenerated electrons and holes.