Construction of Z-scheme Fe3O4/BiOBr/BiOI heterojunction with magnetically recyclable for enhanced photocatalytic reaction activity

Abstract

The Z-scheme Fe₃O₄/BiOBr/BiOI heterojunction with magnetic recyclability was developed by a simple solvothermal approach, effectively targeting and degrading tetracycline pollutants in water that were difficult for the environment to naturally break down. The meticulously produced samples were thoroughly examined for their morphology, structural integrity, microscopic composition, chemical properties, and magnetic characteristics using a variety of analytical techniques. The tripartite Fe₃O₄/BiOBr/BiOI ensemble demonstrated exceptional photocatalytic degradation ability (87 %) towards tetracycline (TC) when guided by simulated sunlight, significantly outperforming the capabilities of pure BiOBr and BiOI. Radical trapping tests revealed that superoxide radicals (·O₂^-) and holes (h⁺) were the main components responsible for photodegradation. Fe₃O₄/BiOBr/BiOI showed increased photocatalytic efficiency, mainly because of the Z-scheme heterojunction creation that allowed for the effective separation of charge carriers generated by photosynthesis. Moreover, Fe₃O₄/BiOBr/BiOI showed remarkable stability and recyclable properties while maintaining high photocatalytic activity. The successful creation of Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts with magnetic recycling for the breakdown of pollutants was predicted to be made possible by this work.