Synergistic enhancement between plasma Bi and MoO2@CN Schottky heterojunction for visible-light-driven degradation of antibiotics and dyes

Carbon nitride-based heterojunction catalysts show broad application prospects for the degradation of wastewater pollutants (e.g. antibiotics and dyes), yet their performance remains challenges in narrow light absorption range and high carrier recombination rate. The introduction of components with matched band structures and surface plasmon resonance can mitigate these limitations. Herein, a Schottky heterojunction composed of plasma Bi and MoO 2 -incorporated carbon nitride (Bi/MoO 2 @CN) is designed and synthesized via solvothermal-calcination method. Multiple preparation parameters are optimized to achieve the reduction of Bi 2 MoO 6 (BMO) to plasma Bi metal and MoO 2 . The synergistic structural and compositional effects endow the optimal material with exceptional adsorption-photocatalytic activity, achieving 96.19% tetracycline (TC) degradation within 90 min under visible light. The first-order kinetic constant is seven times higher than CN. The catalyst also demonstrates versatility in removing diverse organic dyes. Active species trapping experiments identify holes (h + ) and superoxide radicals ( ⸱O 2 − ) as primary reactive species. Furthermore, enhanced photocatalytic mechanism is elucidated through band structure analysis, Schottky heterojunction characterization, and TC degradation pathway study.