BiPO4 coupled Bi3+ doping SnO2 QDs with improved performance towards various organic pollutants clearance

Abstract Herein, a stable and efficient broad-spectrum catalyst BiPO4/Bi-SnO2 quantum dots was synthesized through a facile one-pot hydrothermal method. The as-synthesized materials showed improved photocatalytic performance compared with the pristine Bi-SnO2 and BiPO4 under simulated solar light. Among, the optimized composite could degrade 99.63% of RhB and 89.87% of BPA within 80 min irradiation, being 29.16% and 29.18% higher than that of Bi-SnO2, respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the composite material was related to the raised light utilization and decreased recombination rate of photo-induced carriers. The degradation of BPA was explored in detail, including catalyst dosage, initial concentration and common anions (Cl−, NO3−, PO4− and HCO3− ). Moreover, the composite material was effective for the degradation of several organic dyes and antibiotics. The degradation efficiencies varied from different kinds of the pollutants, which decreased in the following order: RhB (99.89%), MO (89.56%), CIP (89.72%), SMX (54.86%), CHL (39.64%) and MB (29.45%). Trapping experiment of the active species indicated that h+ played a major role and ·OH acted an auxiliary role in the photocatalytic process of BPA. This work with regard to the construction of composite QDs photocatalyst increased the possibility of water pollution control with photocatalysis technology.