Significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance of zinc oxide via bismuth oxybromide hybridization and the mechanism study

A highly efficient and stable ZnO-BiOBr composite photocatalyst was prepared by a facile one-pot solvothermal method. A variety of sophisticated techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra, photoluminescence spectra and photoelectrochemical measurement, and so on were employed to characterize the materials. The as-prepared ZnO-BiOBr nanocrystalline showed strong photocatalytic activity for decomposition of methylene blue (MB), Orange II and biphenol A (BPA) under simulated visible light illumination. The possible working principle for the superior photocatalytic properties and reusability of the ZnO-BiOBr hybrid was surveyed to disclose contributions of various effects for the photoactivity enhancement. It was pointed out that *OH and holes take priority over a (TM) O-2 (-) radicals in serving as the main oxidant in the reaction system. The experimental results indicated that the ZnO-BiOBr composite is highly photostable and valuable for real environmental applications.