Enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of nano-BiOCl/BiVO4/Zeolite p-n heterojunction and Ag/BiOCl/BiVO4 hybrid

AbstractVisible light-active BiOCl/BiVO4/mordenite and Ag/BiOCl/BiVO4 nanocomposite with a p–n heterojunction structure were prepared. Mordenite nanocrystals were synthesised using the hydrothermal method. Deposition and reduction methods were utilised to modify the Zeolite surface. The photocatalytic activities of the heterojunctions were investigated by scanning the change of Acid blue 92 (AB92) concentration under visible irradiation. The nanocomposites demonstrated improved efficiency for dye photodegradation. The activities are due to strong oxidative ability and efficient charge separation and transfer through the BiOCl/BiVO4 p–n junction. The photogenerated electron-holes react with species in medium and produce reactive radicals attack to organic pollutant. The photoreaction kinetics and mechanism with these nanostructures were investigated. Pseudo-first-order reaction was observed for dye degradation kinetics.