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BiOCl/TiO2 composite photocatalysts synthesized by the sol–gel method for enhanced visible-light catalytic activity toward methyl orange

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2020

Xiaofei Qu ,
Xiaohui Zhao ,
Meihua Liu ,
Zhaoqun Gao ,
Donglin Yang ,
Liang Shi ,
Yubao Tang  and
Hongbing Song
Xiaofei Qu
Affiliation:
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao266042, China
Xiaohui Zhao
Affiliation:
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao266042, China
Meihua Liu
Affiliation:
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao266042, China
Zhaoqun Gao
Affiliation:
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao266042, China
Donglin Yang
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory Base for Eco-Chemical Engineering in College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao266042, China
Liang Shi
Affiliation:
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao266042, China
Yubao Tang
Affiliation:
College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao266042, China
Hongbing Song*
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory Base for Eco-Chemical Engineering in College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao266042, China
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: cehbsong@qust.edu.cn
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Abstract

Since the photocatalytic effect of a single conventional photocatalyst is often not ideal, it is particularly important to design and construct an efficient and stable photocatalyst in a compound way. In this study, we exploited the sol–gel method to combine BiOCl and TiO2 and gave full play to their respective advantages to prepare BiOCl/TiO2 composite materials. Then, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM) characterization techniques were utilized to study important indicators of composites—composition, morphology, and structure. In the photodegradation experiment of methyl orange (MO), it was found that the photocatalytic performance of 10BTO (the molar ratio of TiO2 to BiOCl is 10:1) was the best among all the composite photocatalysts, and almost complete degradation of MO was realized. Besides, repeated experiments and recyclability tests on composite materials display favorable stability. Through ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS), photoluminescence (PL), transient photocurrent response, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and electron spin resonance (ESR), a possible degradation mechanism is proposed. Given that there are serious environmental pollution problems in our country, we sincerely hope this research will do its best to degrade organic pollutants in wastewater.

Keywords

BiOCl/TiO2 compositephotocatalyticdegradationorganic pollutants
Type
Article
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 35 , Issue 22 , 30 November 2020 , pp. 3067 - 3078
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020, published on behalf of Materials Research Society by Cambridge University Press

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