One-step grinding significantly enhances the visible-light photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics in water by TiO2-BiOBr: A comparative study

Titanium dioxide - bismuth oxybromide (TiO 2 -BiOBr) composites were successfully prepared using simple one-step grinding, which not only simplifies the production process but also establishes a solid foundation for mass production. Notably, the morphology of BiOBr synthesized by solvothermal significantly affects the performance of the materials after compounding; however, further investigations revealed that the interfacial effects in these composites were not markedly superior to those prepared using the solid-phase grinding method. The composites fabricated through the grinding technique exhibited substantially enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to those produced by conventional solvothermal. This enhancement can be primarily attributed to the interfacial interactions that promote synergistic catalytic effects between TiO 2 and BiOBr. Moreover, the grinding process roughens the material surface and significantly increases its specific surface area, thereby enhancing light scattering and absorption, and optimizing light utilization. Under visible light conditions, the 5 % TiO 2 -BiOBr composites demonstrates outstanding photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation, achieving 92 % degradation efficiency for ciprofloxacin (CIP) while maintaining excellent stability across various antibiotics. Furthermore, this material exhibits remarkable CH 4 selectivity in CO 2 photoreduction. Collectively, these findings indicate that the low-cost and high-performance composites synthesized via grinding offer a practical solution for antibiotic wastewater treatment. The novelty of this study lies in the proposal of a low-cost and efficient synthesis method. It points to a new direction for the preparation of photocatalytic materials. This representing a significant advancement in environmental pollution control.