English

2D/2D Ti₃C₂/Bi₄O₅Br₂ Nanosheet Heterojunction with Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity for NO Removal

• Xiaoqing Yang ^{1, †,} ,
• Hualin Yang ^{1, †,} ,
• Huan Lu ^{2, ,} ,
• Haoxuan Ding ^3, ,
• Yanxin Tong ^1, ,
• Fei Rao ^1, ,
• Xin Zhang ^1, ,
• Qian Shen ^{4, ,} ,
• Jianzhi Gao ^{1, ,} ,
• Gangqiang Zhu ^1,

• 1.

  School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China

• 2.

  School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China

• 3.

  School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK

• 4.

  Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics, Institute of Advanced Materials, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China

• ^†These authors contributed equally to this work.

Corresponding author: Huan Lu, huanlu@snnu.edu.cn Qian Shen, iamqshen@njtech.edu.cn Jianzhi Gao, jianzhigao@snnu.edu.cn

• Received Date: 05 May 2020
  Accepted Date: 05 June 2020
  Revised Date: 04 June 2020
  Available Online: 15 October 2021
• Fund Project:

Abstract: This study concentrated on the production of a two-dimensional and two-dimensional (2D/2D) Ti₃C₂/Bi₄O₅Br₂ heterojunction with a large interface that applied as one of the novel visible-light-induced photocatalyst via the hydrothermal method. The obtained photocatalysts enhanced the photocatalytic efficiency of the NO removal. The crystal structure and chemical state of the composites were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that Ti₃C₂, Bi₄O₅Br₂, and Ti₃C₂/Bi₄O₅Br₂ were successfully synthesized. The experimental results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the prepared samples had a 2D/2D nanosheet structure and large contact area. This structure facilitated the transfer of electrons and holes. The solar light absorptions of the samples were evaluated using the UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-Vis DRS). It was found that the absorption band of Ti₃C₂/Bi₄O₅Br₂ was wider than that of Bi₄O₅Br₂. This represents the electrons in the Ti₃C₂/Bi₄O₅Br₂ nanosheet composites were more likely to be excited. The photocatalytic experiments showed that the 2D/2D Ti₃C₂/Bi₄O₅Br₂ composite with high photocatalytic activity and stability. The photocatalytic efficiency of pure Bi₄O₅Br₂ for the NO removal was 30.5%, while for the 15%Ti₃C₂/Bi₄O₅Br₂ it was 57.6%. Moreover, the catalytic reaction happened in a short period. The concentration of NO decreased exponentially in the first 5 min, which approximately reached the final value. Furthermore, the stability of 15%Ti₃C₂/Bi₄O₅Br₂ was favorable: the catalytic rate was approximately 50.0% after five cycles of cyclic catalysis. Finally, the scavenger experiments, electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR), transient photocurrent response, and surface photovoltage spectrum (SPS) were applied to analyze the photocatalytic mechanism of the composite. The results indicated that the 2D/2D heterojunction Ti₃C₂/Bi₄O₅Br₂ improved the separation rate of the electrons and holes, thus enhancing the photocatalytic efficiency. In the photocatalytic reactions, the photogenerated electrons (e⁻) and superoxide radical (·O₂⁻) were critical active groups that had a significant role in the oxidative removal of NO. The in situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (in situ FTIR) showed that the photo-oxidation products were mainly NO₂⁻ and NO₃⁻. Based on the above experimental results, a possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed. The electrons in Bi₄O₅Br₂ were excited by visible light. They jumped from the valence band (VB) of Bi₄O₅Br₂ to the conduction band (CB). Then, the photoelectrons transferred from the CB of Bi₄O₅Br₂ to the Ti₃C₂ surface, which significantly promoted the separation of the electron-hole pairs. Therefore, the photocatalytic efficiency of Ti₃C₂/Bi₄O₅Br₂ on NO was significantly improved. This study provided an effective method for preparing 2D/2D Ti₃C₂/Bi₄O₅Br₂ nanocomposites for the photocatalytic degradation of environmental pollutants, which has great potential in solving energy stress and environmental pollution.

Key words:
• Ti₃C₂/Bi₄O₅Br₂
•  /  2D/2D heterojunction
•  /  Semiconductor
•  /  Photocatalyst
•  /  Photocatalytic degradation
•  /  NO removal

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