All-solid-state Z-scheme system of RGO-Cu2O/Bi2O3 for tetracycline degradation under visible-light irradiation

A series of RGO-Cu 2 O/Bi 2 O 3 composite photocatalysts was developed by depositing Cu 2 O and Bi 2 O 3 nanocrystals on the surface of RGO via an in situ precipitation method. The Cu 2 O and Bi 2 O 3 nanocrystals distributed uniformly and separately on RGO, which favored the transfer of photogenerated electrons and holes towards an effective path. Compared with RGO-Cu 2 O and RGO-Bi 2 O 3 , the three-component RGO-Cu 2 O/Bi 2 O 3 composites presented a further improvement on the photodegradation of tetracycline (TC) under visible light irradiation, which can be attributed to the construction of a Z-scheme photocatalytic system where the RGO served as a solid-state medium for the transfer of the photogenerated electrons from the conduction band of Bi 2 O 3 to the valence band of Cu 2 O.