Construction of non-noble decorated Z-scheme Bi-BiVO-BiTiO for enhanced full solar-spectrum driven photocatalytic activity.

Currently, to deal with the increasingly severe energy crisis and environmental consequences, photocatalytic technology is considered as a promise solution, and the construction of Z-scheme heterostructures are important strategies to maximize the utilization of solar energy and improve photocatalytic performance. Herein, a novel full spectrum-responsive Z-scheme Bi-BiVO-BiTiO heterojunction was constructed by a facile hydrothermal method without any templates or surfactants. A series of detailed analyses revealed that the novel Bi-BiVO-BiTiO heterojunction catalyst were prepared successfully. DRS and PL techniques analysis demonstrated that the solar spectral response and photon-generated charge carriers can be greatly enhanced by the synergistic effect of BiVO-BiTiO heterojunction and Bi surface plasmon resonance. Under full solar-spectrum light irradiation, Bi-BiVO-BiTiO heterojunction showed the best photocatalytic degradation efficiency of tigecycline (over 90%) within 120 min. It was double higher than those of pure BiVO and single BiTiO. Furthermore, the catalytic mechanism and reaction path were thoroughly studied by combining with active species capture experiments and intermediates analysis. This work provides facile and efficient strategy for the design and development of efficient novel photocatalyst with full spectral response and effective solar light utilization.