Construction of Bi2O2CO3/Ti3C2 heterojunctions for enhancing the visible-light photocatalytic activity of tetracycline degradation

Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 (BOC) was successfully loaded on a highly conductive Ti 3 C 2 surface by the hydrothermal method, forming a unique BOC/Ti 3 C 2 heterostructure. The use of advanced characterization methods reveals the composition, morphology and photoelectric properties of the material. The results show that the interface formed by close contact between BOC and Ti 3 C 2 provides an effective channel for charge transfer between the two. Importantly, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of BOC/Ti 3 C 2 for tetracycline (TC) is ~80%, which is significantly higher than the degradation efficiency of pure BOC and pure Ti 3 C 2 for TC. In addition, BOC/Ti 3 C 2 still has high catalytic activity in the degradation of complex mixed antibiotics. This is because BOC and Ti 3 C 2 have large specific surface areas, high light absorption capacity and efficient carrier separation after recombination. At the same time, the detected superoxide radicals ( O 2− ) and holes (h + ) are the main active substances. The degradation pathway and catalytic mechanism of the photocatalytic degradation of TC by BOC/Ti 3 C 2 are further explained. This research designed and developed a BOC/Ti 3 C 2 composite material for the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline and mixed antibiotic wastewater, providing experimental methods and ideas for actual wastewater treatment.