Facile synthesis of GO as middle carrier modified flower-like BiOBr and C3N4 nanosheets for simultaneous treatment of chromium(VI) and tetracycline

A novel GO modified g-C3N4 nanosheets/flower-like BiOBr hybrid photocatalyst is fabricated by a facile method. The characterization results reveal that wrinkled GO is deposited between g-C3N4 nanosheets and flower-like BiOBr forming a Z-scheme heterojunction. As a mediator, plicate GO plays a positive role in prompting photogenerated electrons transferring through its sizeable 2D/2D contact surface area. The g-C3N4/GO/BiOBr hybrid displays a superior photocatalytic ability to g-C3N4 and BiOBr in photodegrading tetracycline (TC), whose removal efficiency could reach 96% within 2 h. Besides, g-C3N4/GO/BiOBr composite can reduce Cr(VI), and simultaneously treat TC and Cr(VI) combination contaminant under the visible light. The g-C3N4/GO/BiOBr ternary composite also exhibits satisfactory stability and reusability after four cycling experiments. Further, a feasible mechanism related to the photocatalytic process of g-C3N4/GO/BiOBr is put forward. This study offers a ternary hybrid photocatalyst with eco-friendliness and hopeful application in water pollution. (C) 2021 Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

A novel GO modified g-C3N4 nanosheets/flower-like BiOBr hybrid photocatalyst with superior photocatalytic ability and treatment effect to composite pollutants is synthesized and characterized.