Photocatalytic Degradation of Sulfamethoxazole by Cd/Er-Doped Bi2MoO6

Abstract

Bi2MoO6 (BMO) is a typical bismuth-based semiconductor material, and its unique Aurivillius structure provides a broad space for electron delocalization. In this study, a new type of bismuth molybdate Cd/Er-BMO photocatalytic material was prepared by co-doping Er3+ and Cd2+, and the performance of the photocatalytic degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) was systematically studied. The research results showed that the efficiency of SMZ degradation by Cd/Er-BMO was significantly improved after doping Er3+ and Cd2+ ions, reflecting the synergistic catalytic effect of Cd2+ and Er3+ co-doping. Cd/Er-BMO doped with 6% Cd had the highest degradation efficiency (93.89%) of SMZ under visible light irradiation. The material revealed excellent stability and reusability in repeated degradation experiments. In addition, 6% Cd/Er-BMO had a smaller particle size and a larger specific surface area, which is conducive to improving the generation efficiency of its photogenerated electron-hole pairs and reducing the recombination rate, significantly enhancing the photocatalysis of the material. This study not only provides an effective photocatalyst for degrading environmental pollutants such as SMZ, but also provides an important scientific basis and new ideas for the future development of efficient and stable photocatalytic materials.