Ligand-metal charge transfer mechanism enhances TiO2/Bi2WO6/rGO nanomaterials photocatalytic efficient degradation of norfloxacin under visible light

Abstract Overuse of antibiotics threatens water security, and photocatalysis is a potential technology to alleviate this problem. In this study, the TiO2/Bi2WO6/rGO nanocomposite materials were prepared by a solvothermal process, and a series of characterizations were carefully examined. Then, the removal of norfloxacin from water under visible light irradiation was investigated to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of TiO2/Bi2WO6/rGO. The TiO2/Bi2WO6/rGO composite catalyst has higher photocatalytic activity than TiO2 and TiO2/Bi2WO6 under visible light, and the optimal addition content for rGO is 0.5%. After 60 min of visible light irradiation, the degradation rate of norfloxacin on TiO2/Bi2WO6/rGO-0.5% reached 87.79%. Furthermore, the UV–Vis of the complex suggests that the ligand-metal electron transfer mechanism enhances the catalytic activity of TiO2/Bi2WO6/rGO. Finally, the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of norfloxacin by TiO2/Bi2WO6/rGO composite catalyst was proposed.