Construction of 0D/2D CuO/BiOBr hierarchical heterojunction for the enhanced photocatalytic degradation of benzene-containing pollutants under visible light. Issue 3 (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Deng, Chonghai; Wang, Tao; Ye, Fan; Ling, Xiaohui; Peng, Lulu; Hu, Hanmei; Yu, Hong; Ding, Kangze; Wu, Yiping; Dong, Qian; Le, Huirong; Han, Yongsheng
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental chemical engineering. Volume 10:Issue 3(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Heterojunction -- CuO quantum dots -- BiOBr nanoflakes -- Hierarchical structure -- Photocatalysis -- Water purification; Chemical engineering -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Environmental aspects; Environmental engineering; Periodicals; 660.0286
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2022.107365
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2213-2929

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, a novel CuO/BiOBr composite photocatalyst with p-n heterojunction were fabricated by a facile microwave-assisted aqueous chemical deposition strategy. The as-prepared CuO/BiOBr heterojunction is comprised of zero-dimensional (0D) CuO quantum dots (QDs) with average size of 4.1 nm uniformly grown on the 2D thin BiOBr nanoflakes (NFs) with {001}-facet exposure forming hierarchical structures. The CuO/BiOBr heterostructures exhibit greatly enhanced photocatalytic activity in the degradation of benzene-containing pollutants such as Congo red (CR) and Bisphenol A (BPA) under visible light irradiation, in which the apparent kinetic rates of the sample CB-3 to degrade CR and BPA are 4.92 and 4.64 times higher than those of the pristine BiOBr, respectively. The improved photocatalytic activity is attributed to the formation of the appropriate p-n heterojunction between p-CuO and n-BiOBr, thereby achieving higher visible light harvesting, faster transfer and separation of the photo-induced charges across the contacted interface, and larger photoactive sites for the redox reactions. The proposed spatial charge-transfer mechanism of CuO/BiOBr heterojunction is evaluated by the band measurement and the radical trapping experiments. This work provides a surface engineering strategy for the construction of advanced photocatalysts for wastewater treatment. Graphical Abstract: Novel CuO/BiOBr architectures with p-n heterojunction are constructed by a surface engineering approach, exhibiting remarkably enhanced photocatalytic activity in the degradation of benzene-containing pollutants in wastewater. ga1 Highlights: CuO/BiOBr p-n heterojunction were constructed by a surface engineering strategy. CuO QDs uniformly grown on the (001) atom plane of 2D BOBr nanoflake. CuO/BiOBr heterojunction exhibited remarkably enhanced photocatalytic activity. The spatial charge-transfer mechanism of CuO/BiOBr heterojunction was discussed. The surface engineering technique may be applied to the creation of other advanced catalysts.