One-dimensional Z-scheme NiO/Bi2WO6 heterostructures for enhancing visible-light photocatalytic activity

The tube-like NiO/Bi2WO6 heterostructured photocatalysts with the diameter of about 250 nm and tube wall thickness of about 55 nm have been fabricated via a collective electrospinning-calcination process. The morphology, chemical compositions, and optical and photoelectrochemical properties of NiO/Bi2WO6 photocatalysts are probed by electron microscopy and associated spectroscopy techniques. Benefiting from the synergistic effect between p-NiO/n-Bi2WO6 Z-scheme heterojunctions and unique one-dimensional tubular structure, NiO/Bi2WO6 nanotubes greatly promote the separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs and improve the photocatalytic activity towards tetracycline (TC) degradation under simulated sunlight irradiation. Meanwhile, the photocatalytic mechanism of NiO/Bi2WO6 nanotubes has been discussed in detail. This work can act as a new technique to build p-n heterostructured photocatalysts, serving as a promising photocatalyst for the removal of TC-related antibiotics from the environment.