Microwave-assisted synthesis and characterization of BiOI/BiF3p-n heterojunctions and its enhanced photocatalytic properties

BiOI/BiF(3)heterojunction photocatalyst was rapidly synthesized by microwave heating. Photocatalytic performance of BiOI/BiF(3)was evaluated by degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride. The results showed that BiOI/BiF(3)had stronger photocatalytic activity than BiF3(9 times that of BiF3), giving 80% tetracycline hydrochloride removal in two hours. It was postulated that the enhanced photocatalytic activity formed a unique heterojunction interface owing much to BiOI/BiF(3)during photocatalytic degradation, thereby speeding up the separation of the photogenerated electrons and holes.