A direct Z-scheme LaFeO3/WO3 photocatalyst for enhanced degradation of phenol under visible light irradiation

A series of LaFeO3/WO3 photocatalysts with different mass fractions were conceived and prepared by citric acid assisted hydrothermal method. Including its structure, surface morphology, photornetrics and charge transfer, etc. were analyzed, which indicated that the establishment of a direct Z-scheme could enhance the photocatalytic performance significantly. Among them, the 15%-LaFeO3/WO3 photocatalyst displayed the best photocatalytic performance (up to 94.15%) under 3 h visible light, even after 5 cycles, also shown the excellent photocatalytic stability. The excellent photocatalytic activity of constructed direct Z-scheme photocatalyst is mainly based on the physically more feasible migration of photogenerated carriers. In the other hand, according to the active species capture experiment and ESR spectra, the phenol degradation was mainly attributed to the oxidation reaction of OH and h(+). Therefore, the photocatalytic reaction mechanism, degradative pathway and intermediate products under the visible light of the direct Z-scheme photocatalysts for phenol degradation were put forward.

Automated summary

A series of LaFeO3/WO3 photocatalysts with different mass fractions were prepared by citric acid assisted hydrothermal method and analyzed for their structure, surface morphology, photometrics, and charge transfer. The establishment of a direct Z-scheme enhanced photocatalytic performance significantly, with the 15% LaFeO3/WO3 photocatalyst showing the best performance. The physically more feasible migration of photogenerated carriers was key to the excellent photocatalytic activity.