Multiple charge-carrier transfer channels of Z-scheme bismuth tungstate-based photocatalyst for tetracycline degradation: Transformation pathways and mechanism

Abstract As a sustainable and cost-efficient technique, photocatalytic technology provides an ideal method for energy utilization and environmental pollution control. The current photocatalyst is commonly based on single charge transfer approach, which cannot meet the demand of rapidly charge transfer to improve the photocatalytic performance. Herein, a novel Ag3PO4/MWCNT/Bi2WO6 Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst with multiple charge-carrier transfer channels was successfully prepared by a simple hydrothermal and deposition procedure, which possessed remarkable charge carriers separation efficiency and broad photoabsorption: (i) Z-scheme charge transfer channel was formed by Ag3PO4, Bi2WO6 and Ag; (ii) Ag showed the “electron sink” property and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect; (iii) multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) can act as electron accepter to improve the transfer efficiency of photoinduced electron. Ag3PO4/MWCNT/Bi2WO6 composite shows excellent visible light drive photocatalytic performance for organic pollution degradation. And the degradation pathways of tetracycline (TC) were investigated at length. In addition, the cyclic experiments confirmed that the photocatalytic stability of Ag3PO4/MWCNT/Bi2WO6. The hole (h+) and superoxide radical ( O2−) radicals were confirmed that played a key role in the photodegradation system. This work provides inspiration for rational fabrication of excellent photocatalyst with multi-charge carrier transfer channels to meet increasing environmental requirements.