Ni2+-assisted catalytic one-step synthesis of Bi/BiOCl/Bi2O2CO3 heterojunction with enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light

Bi/BiOCl/Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 heterojunction was prepared via one-step hydrothermal process under the synergistic catalysis of Ni 2+ , where Bi(NO 3 ) 3 was employed as Bi source, DMF was used as carbon source and reductant, NiCl 2 was adopted as Cl source and co-catalyst. The content of Bi, BiOCl and Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 can be adjusted by changing the reaction time, temperature, content of DMF and NiCl 2 . The doping of Bi enhanced the photocatalytic activity of BiOCl/Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 under visible-light. Bi/BiOCl/Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 presented photo-degradation activity for environmental pollutants of rhodamine B, sunset yellow and tetracycline, which were 13.01, 9.40, 1.50 times and 168.38, 10.90, 4.75 times higher than BiOCl and Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 , respectively. The improved photocatalytic activity was ascribed to the sensitized effect of Bi and BiOCl, the surface plasmon resonance effect and the heterojunction structure, which inhibited the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. The degradation mechanism for rhodamine B was discussed, and the decreased toxicity of the degradation products was demonstrated. • The novel Bi/BiOCl/Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 catalyst was synthesized by one-pot hydrothermal method. • Ni 2+ can catalyze the reduction reaction of Bi 3+ by DMF. • Bi/BiOCl/Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 presents enhanced photocatalytic activity for organic pollutants degradation. • 1 O 2 ,·O 2 - and h + play important functions in the photocatalytic process. • The reduced toxicity of the degradation products was testified with culture mung bean sprouts.