Synthesis of La-ZnO/BiOCl heterojunction photocatalyst with enhancement of photodegradation under the visible light

Semiconductor photocatalysis is an efficient technique to degrade the pollutants from wastewater. Herein, the doping of elements and the construction of heterojunctions are used to expand the visible light region and improve the transfer of photogenerated electrons-holes. The La-ZnO/BiOCl (LZB) heterojunction has been synthesized via the hydrothermal method. Furthermore, LZB-0.30 heterojunction is found to possess the optimal photodegradation efficiency of 100 % for RhB solution under the visible light within 45 min. Its degradation rate is ten times faster than that of La-ZnO, owing to positive development of photostimulated charge carriers. In addition, the results demonstrate that LZB-0.30, as an ideal photocatalyst, has great potential applications in the treatment of contaminants, providing a feasible strategy for environmental protection.