Photocatalytic Degradation of 1,4-Dioxane by Heterostructured Bi2O3/Cu-MOF Composites

Photocatalysts exhibiting high activity for the degradation of 1,4-dioxane (1,4-D) have been a subject of intense focus due to their high toxicity and challenging degradability. Bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) is recognized as an ideal photocatalyst; however, there have been limited studies on its effectiveness in 1,4-D degradation. It is crucial to address the issue of low photocatalytic efficiency attributed to the instability and easy recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes in Bi2O3 upon photoexcitation. In this study, Cu-MOF and oxygen vacancy were utilized to improve the 1,4-D photocatalytic degradation efficiency of Bi2O3 by preparing Bi2O3, Bi2O3/Cu-MOF, Bi2O3 x, and Bi2O3 x/Cu-MOF. The results revealed that the incorporation of Cu-MOF induced a larger specific surface area, a well-developed pore structure, and a smaller particle size in Bi2O3, facilitating enhanced visible light utilization and an improved photoelectron transfer rate, leading to the highest photocatalytic activity observed in Bi2O3/Cu-MOF. In addition, oxygen vacancies were found to negatively affect the photocatalytic activity of Bi2O3, mainly due to the transformation of the fi-Bi2O3 crystalline phase into ff-Bi2O3 caused by oxygen vacancies. Further, the synergistic effect of MOF and oxygen vacancies did not positively affect the photocatalytic activity of Bi2O3. Therefore, the construction of heterojunctions using Cu-MOF can significantly enhance the efficiency of degradation of 1,4-D, and Bi2O3/Cu-MOF appears to be a promising photocatalyst for 1,4-D degradation. This study opens new avenues for the design and optimization of advanced photocatalytic materials with improved efficiency for the treatment of recalcitrant organic pollutants.

Automated summary

In this study, Cu-MOF and oxygen vacancy were used to improve the 1,4-dioxane (1,4-D) photocatalytic degradation efficiency of Bi2O3. The incorporation of Cu-MOF increased the specific surface area, pore structure, and reduced particle size of Bi2O3, leading to enhanced visible light utilization and improved photoelectron transfer rate. However, oxygen vacancies negatively affected the photocatalytic activity of Bi2O3. Therefore, the construction of heterojunctions using Cu-MOF can significantly enhance the efficiency of 1,4-D degradation, making Bi2O3/Cu-MOF a promising photocatalyst.