Macroporous flowerlike Bi2O2CO3-CuBi2O4 nanoheterojunction photocatalyst for high concentrated malachite green degradation: Influence of nanocomposite composition and sonication approach

In this work, the novel CuBi2O4 surface-sensitized bismuth subcarbonate as flowerlike sun-light dual-nanoheterojuncted photocatalysts, in different weight ratios of CuBi2O4 to Bi2O2CO3, were prepared via the facile hydrothermal technique with the assistance of ultrasonic waves. Structural characterization, surface morphology, and optical properties of nanophotocatalysts were investigated with XRD, FESEM, TEM, BET-BJH, DRS, and PL analyses. The results represented the highest degradation percentage (91.6 %) for 200 mg/L malachite green over Bi2O2CO3-CuBi2O4 (1:1)-SH nanocomposite under 180 min sunlight irradiation due to two light absorption edges and separation of the charge carriers promoted owing to the heterojunction formation and the specific flowerlike morphology. It has a meso/macroporous structure with 12.4 m2/g surface area, Vmeso= 0.085 cm3/g and Vmacro = 0.039 cm3/g in which facilitates the intra-diffusion and adsorption of malachite green macromolecules Furthermore, the selected nanophotocatalyst stability, reaction mechanism, and kinetic evaluation were examined.