All-solid-state Z-scheme AgBr/Bi2CrO6 heterostructure with metallic Ag as a charge transfer bridge for boosted charge transfer and photocatalytic performances

The unique properties of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect remarkably enhance the light response range and carriers separation capability. A novel hierarchical flower-like structure Ag/AgBr/MW-Bi2CrO6 (AB/MW-BCO) Z-scheme heterojunctions were fabricated via the microwave-assisted hydrothermal, followed by in-situ precipitation and photoreduction method. The photodegradation activity of the optimized 1.0AB/MW-BCO catalyst towards tetracycline hydrochloride (80 % in 60 min), oxytetracycline hydrochloride (82.3 % in 60 min) and rhodamine B (98 % in 30 min) under visible light was much higher than those of Ag/AgB and MW-Bi2CrO6. The enhanced photodegradation activity of 1.0AB/MW-BCO was mainly derived from the photogenerated carriers separation capability and light response range were remarkably promoted due to the surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in this plasmonic system and the formation of the heterojunction. An all-solid-state Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism bridged by the Ag NPs was proposed based on band structure and radical quenching tests. This work provides new insight into the removal of dyes and antibiotics using Bi2CrO6-based heterojunction photocatalysts.