g-C3N4 surface-decorated Bi2O2CO3 for improved photocatalytic performance: Theoretical calculation and photodegradation of antibiotics in actual water matrix

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Switzerland : 1996), 2019-06, Vol.366, p.468-479
• Main Authors: Zhao, Huiping, Li, Guangfang, Tian, Fan, Jia, Qintao, Liu, Yunling, Chen, Rong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibiotics; Bi2O2CO3; First principle calculation; g-C3N4; Photodegradation
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2019.02.088

The photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4/Bi2O2CO3 for antibiotics degradation was greatly enhanced, which was attributed to the relatively faster charge transfer rate and the deeply suppressed recombination of photo-generated electron-hole pairs through g-C3N4 surface-decoration. [Display omitted] •The charge transfer in g-C3N4/Bi2O2CO3 was clarified by first principle simulation.•g-C3N4 surface-decorated Bi2O2CO3 was fabricated via a facile hydrothermal method.•g-C3N4 surface-decorated Bi2O2CO3 displayed enhanced photocatalytic activity.•g-C3N4 surface-decoration facilitated charge transfer and separation at the interface.•The photocatalytic activity for TC degradation in actual water was also evaluated. To overcome the issue of UV-light response character of Bi2O2CO3 due to its wide band gap, we primarily attempted to understand the possibility of improving the photocatalytic activity of Bi2O2CO3via g-C3N4 surface-decoration by the theoretical calculation. Subsequently, g-C3N4 surface-decorated Bi2O2CO3 was successfully prepared via a facile hydrothermal method. It was found that the g-C3N4 surface-decorated Bi2O2CO3 samples exhibited enhanced activities for the photodegradation of tetracycline compared with pure Bi2O2CO3 upon simulated solar light irradiation. Among them, the 10 wt% g-C3N4 surface-decorated Bi2O2CO3 sample showed the highest photocatalytic efficiency. First principle calculation and experimental data confirmed that the charge transfer at the interface between g-C3N4 and Bi2O2CO3 could significantly suppress the recombination of photo-generated electron-holes pairs, thus improving the photocatalytic performance. The proposed mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic activity was also discussed. Moreover, the photodegradation of antibiotics over g-C3N4 surface-decorated Bi2O2CO3 was also performed in actual water matrix.