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Efficient photodegradation of chlorophenols by BiOBr/NaBiO3 heterojunctioned composites under visible light
Aijuan Han1, Hongwei Zhang2, Di Lu2
1Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore 117543, Singapore; NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, 5A Engineering Drive 1, #02-01, Singapore 117411, Singapore.
Abstract:
Forming heterojunctioned composites is an effective way to develop visible-light-driven photocatalysts. A series of BiOBr/NaBiO3 composites were synthesized by surface transformation of NaBiO3 with hydrobromic acid. Commensurate planes of BiOBr and NaBiO3 enabled the formation of a closely bound interface. Composites with <20wt.% BiOBr exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of chlorophenols under low intensity visible light (λ>400nm). The best photocatalyst was 9% BiOBr/NaBiO3 with a quantum yield of 0.365. No photocorrosion was observed after three cycles. Using radical scavengers and inert atmosphere, holes, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals were found to be involved in the photoactivity of the BiOBr/NaBiO3 composite. Hydroxylated and open-ring diacid molecules were identified as intermediates in the mineralization of 4-chlorophenol.
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