Construction of 3D leaf-like Bi2O3-Bi2S3 nanosheets on Fe2O3 nanofilms and its photoelectrocatalytic performance

A novel 3D leaf-like Fe2O3-Bi2O3-Bi2S3 photoelectrocatalyst was constructed through electrodeposition and hydrothermal reaction and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-Vis absorbance spectra. Results indicated the successful construction of 3D leaf-like Bi2O3-Bi(2)S(3 )nanosheets covered Fe2O3 nanoparticles, which could favor light refraction, improve light absorption, reduce charge transfer resistance, and facilitate the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. The photocurrent density of Fe2O3-Bi2O3-Bi2S3 was ca. 8 and 7 times higher than that of bare Fe2O3 at 0.45 V vs Ag/AgCl under visible and UV-vis light irradiation, respectively. The Fe2O3-Bi2O3-Bi2S3 film exhibited higher photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) performance on the degradation of refractory pollutants than Fe2O3 and Fe2O3-Bi2O3 films under visible irradiation. Effects of applied potential and trapping agents were studied. The main active species in PEC process was the h(+), HO center dot and O-2(center dot-). A proposed mechanism of charge transfer in Fe2O3-Bi2O3-Bi(2)S(3 )was discussed. This work provided a potential candidate material for PEC application in environmental remediation. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.