Surface electric field-driven tourmaline enhanced Bi2WO6 visible light for antibiotic removal

Bismuth tungstate (Bi2WO6) has been renowned for its affordability, non-toxic nature, and outstanding performance, but rapid carrier recombination has always been its fatal drawback. However, the inherent surface electric field of tourmaline effectively reduces carrier recombination and promotes their rapid separation. Consequently, the successful preparation of tourmaline/Bi2WO6 (T/BWO) composite materials has been achieved. Characterization and experiments indicate that, under the influence of the tourmaline electric field, the photocatalytic performance of Bi2WO6 is significantly enhanced. T/BWO successfully removed 95 % of tetracycline (TC) within 60 min. The reaction rate constant for T/BWO composite materials (0.0467 min−1) is 8.6-fold that of tourmaline (0.0054 min−1) and 4.0-fold that of Bi2WO6 (0.0118 min−1). Additionally, light absorption capability and carrier separation efficiency have been markedly improved. Through simulations of various natural environmental factors, T/BWO exhibits commendable practicality. Considering quenching experiments and the detection of active species, it has been determined that ·O2– and h+ contribute the most, shedding light on its photocatalytic mechanism. Furthermore, the degradation process of tetracycline and the toxicity of its byproducts have been investigated. This study has contributed further innovations and insights to the enhancement of photocatalyst performance and efficient environmental remediation.