Formulating InVO₄/α-Fe₂O₃ Heterojunction Composites for Photocatalytic Tetracycline Hydrochloride Degradation

This study reports the synthesis of InVO₄/α-Fe₂O₃ heterojunction photocatalysts with different stoichiometric ratios via a two-step hydrothermal synthesis reaction. The prepared photocatalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, and other methods. The prepared composites exhibited good photocatalysis of tetracycline hydrochloride. Among the InVO₄/α-Fe₂O₃ heterojunction photocatalysts with different ratios, the InVO₄/0.25α-Fe₂O₃ photocatalyst showed the highest degradation rate for 20 mg L^-1 tetracycline hydrochloride. After three photocatalytic runs, it still exhibited excellent stability and reusability. Meanwhile, this study also found that superoxide radical anion (-O^2-), electron (e^-), hydroxyl radical (·OH), and photogenerated hole (h⁺) are the basic active substances in the photocatalytic process.