Bi2O3/rGO/MonO3n-1 all-solid-state ternary Z-scheme for visible-light driven photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A and acetaminophen in groundwater

A series of Bi2O3/rGO/MonO3n-1 all-solid-state ternary Z-scheme were successfully synthesized by a mixed hydrothermal and wet-chemical route. The new materials are highly efficient under visible-light irradiation for the degradation of rhodamine B, bisphenol A, and acetaminophen and it was shown that the best performing composite was able to degrade up to 77 % of acetaminophen in groundwater samples. The synthesized materials were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Nitrogen Adsorption-Desorption Isotherm and UV-vis Diffuse Reflectance spectroscopy. It was found that the presence of rGO plays an important role in the material since it helps in delaying the recombination time of photogenerated electron/hole (e(-)/h(+)) pairs, greatly improving the photocatalytic activity of Bi2O3. The excellent photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation of Bi2O3/rGO/MonO3n-1 makes it a promising material for the degradation of emerging contaminants in groundwater systems.