Durable and recyclable BiOBr/silk fibroin-cellulose acetate composite film for efficient photodegradation of dyes under visible light irradiation

A stable and recyclable of BiOBr/silk fibroin-cellulose acetate composite film was prepared by blending-wet phase transformation and in situ precipitate technology. The cellulose acetate film modified by silk fibroin formed a finger-shaped porous structure, which provided a large space for the uniform growth of BiOBr nanosheets and facilitated the shuttle flow of dyes in film. The morphology, phase structure, and optical properties of the composite films were characterized using various techniques, and their photocatalytic performance for dye wastewater was evaluated under visible light irradiation. Results showed that the BiOBr/SF-CA composite film exhibited efficient photocatalytic activity with 99.9% of rhodamine B degradation rate. Moreover, the composite film maintained high catalytic stability because Bi as the active species deposited on the film showed almost no loss. Finally, the possible photocatalytic mechanisms in the BiOBr/SF-CA composite film were speculated through radical-trapping experiments and electron spin resonance testing.