A novel Z-type heterojunction Bi3O4Cl/Bi4O5I2 photocatalytic composite with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and degradation properties

At present, the sustainable development of humans is facing health problems and ecological imbalance caused by environmental pollution. To solve the bacteria, antibiotics and other pollutants in wastewater, Bi3O4Cl and Bi4O5I2 with appropriate bandgap width were selected to prepare Z-type heterojunction Bi3O4Cl/Bi4O5I2 photocatalytic materials by calcination method. Under LED light, the best sample Bi3O4Cl/Bi4O5I2-4 could completely inactivate Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in 30 min, Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) in 20 min, and degrade 70.6% of tetracycline (TC) and 97.4% of Rhodamine B (RhB). Photocurrent and electrochemical impedance tests (EIS) confirmed the high photocurrent response and low charge transfer resistance in the Bi3O4Cl/Bi4O5I2. The photocatalytic antibacterial and degradation mechanism of Z-type Bi3O4Cl/Bi4O5I2 heterojunction was verified by capture experiments. Thus, this study provides a compact and efficient photocatalyst with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and degradation properties.

Automated summary

In this study, Z-type heterojunction Bi3O4Cl/Bi4O5I2 photocatalysts with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and degradation properties were prepared by calcination method. The photocatalysts could effectively inactivate bacteria and degrade pollutants under LED light.