A novel AgI/BiOI/pg-C3N4 composite with enhanced photocatalytic activity for removing methylene orange, tetracycline and E. coli

Making multiple heterojunction of photocatalysts is an effect approach to achieve high effective utilization of solar resource. A novel ternary AgI/BiOI/pg-C 3 N 4 nanocomposite was synthesized with a unique n-p-n heterojunction. In this work, an in-situ transformation method was used to fabricate AgI/BiOI/pg-C 3 N 4 heterostructure with different AgI/BiOI ratios. The photocatalytic activity of the AgI/BiOI/pg-C 3 N 4 was detected by the degradation of methylene orange (MO) and tetracycline (TC). The AgI/BiOI/pg-C 3 N 4 composites exhibited better photocatalytic activity than pg-C 3 N 4 and BiOI/pg-C 3 N 4 composite. The performance of photocatalytic antibacterial inactivation of E. coli indicated that the AgI/BiOI/pg-C 3 N 4 heterostructure is an ideal material for antibacterial applications. The ESR and trapping experiments confirmed that the degradation of organic pollution is completed through the co-operation of •O 2 − , •OH and h + . A possible mechanism of the degradation process is proposed.