WO3-x nanorods/rGO/AgBiS2 Z-scheme heterojunction with comprehensive spectrum response and enhanced Fenton and photocatalytic activities

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science 2024-05, Vol.662, p.250-262
• Main Authors: Abbas, Muhammad, Hussain Shah, Navid, Ilyas, Mubashar, Mudasar, Murtaza, Raza, Ali, Ashfaq Ahmad, M., Cui, Yanyan, Wang, Yaling
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AgBiS2 photoactivity; Fenton reaction; Photocatalysis; rGO; WO3-x photocatalyst
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.02.026

[Display omitted] •Electron storage in defective R2 and effective release to H2O2 to generate ROS-enabled night catalysis.•Broad spectrum response and better carrier separation improved the photoactivities.•TC degradation pathways are proposed in light of DFT calculations and LC-MS data. Tetracycline (TC) antibiotics and dyes are the prevalent water contaminants, and their removal from the water through photocatalysis is a plausible approach. However, most semiconductors in their pristine form need to be improved to be exploited in photocatalysis owing to poor photoresponse, intense carrier recombination, and inertness without irradiation. Herein, we demonstrate the modification of defective WO3-x by rGO and AgBiS2 in the form of WO3-x/rGO/AgBiS2 (R2). It exploits the superior conductivity and synergism of rGO to inhibit carrier recombination; thereby, Z-scheme heterojunction with AgBiS2 provides high redox potential. Defects in WO3-x enable electron (e-) storage in R2, which decomposes H2O2 to generate ROS without irradiation. Owing to these essences and broad-spectrum response, it removed 93.72, 82.77, and 84.82% of TC during photo-Fenton (PFR), night-Fenton (NFR), and photocatalytic (PCR) reactions, respectively. Its removal rates reached 94.74, 81.54, and 87.50% against rhodamine B (RhB) during PFR, NFR, and PCR, respectively. It is superior to memory catalysis (MC) and conventional Fenton reactions (CFR) because it can perform without and with irradiation across a broader pH range. So, this work is conducive to designing WO3-x-based catalysts to combat environmental and energy crises.