Ag3VO4/BiOIO3 heterojunction with enhanced visible-light-driven catalytic activity

A novel Ag 3 VO 4 /BiOIO 3 heterojunction catalyst was prepared by loading Ag 3 VO 4 nanoparticles onto BiOIO 3 nanosheets via precipitation. Ag 3 VO 4 /BiOIO 3 exhibited obviously higher activity than Ag 3 VO 4 and BiOIO 3 in photocatalytic degradation of aqueous dyes and tetracycline hydrochloride under visible-light irradiation. The recyclability of the catalyst was confirmed by cycling experiments. Photogenerated holes (h + ) and superoxide radical anions ( · O 2 − ) were demonstrated to be the main active species. Ag 3 VO 4 /BiOIO 3 can facilitate the separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers more efficiently than Ag 3 VO 4 and BiOIO 3 . Possible photocatalytic mechanisms were proposed.