Study of enhanced photocatalytic performance mechanisms towards a new binary-Bi heterojunction with spontaneously formed interfacial defects

The directional design of interfacial defects is a promising way to promote charge separation but simultaneously a great challenge due to their random formation in heterojunction. Herein, an alternative Bi12O17Cl2/Bi2WO6 heterojunction with interfacial defects formed spontaneously is prepared by controlling the growth of Bi2WO6 on the edges of Bi12O17Cl2 nanobelts via ion exchange process. These interfacial defects can efficiently increase the carrier density and serve as charge separation centers to extend the lifetime of carriers and activate O-2 to O-center dot(2)- and further to (OH)-O-center dot. The zigzag interfaces and irregular edges facilitate the interaction between active sites and reactants. The heterojunction morphology and the interfacial defect concentration can be controlled by tuning the solvothermal time. Consequently, the optimal Bi12O17Cl2/Bi2WO6 heterojunction exhibits significantly enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance toward the degradation of phenols, antibiotics and dyes as compared to that of mono-Bi Bi12O17Cl2 and Bi2WO6 photocatalyst.