Atom-sharing BiOBr/Bi2S3 Z-scheme heterostructure decorated on flexible carbon fiber cloth as an effective and easily recyclable photocatalyst for Cr(VI) elimination

The development of flexible membrane-shaped photocatalysts with superior catalytic activity for the treatment of heavy metals in wastewater is of great significance, but it remains an extremely large challenge. In this work, atom co-sharing BiOBr/Bi 2 S 3 Z-scheme heterostructures were constructed in situ on flexible carbon fiber cloth substrate by combining solvothermal and ion exchange method. The prepared CFC/BiOBr/Bi 2 S 3 membrane-shaped photocatalyst exhibits good flexibility, water permeability and retrievability. After adsorption for 1 h and visible-light irradiation for 60 min, controllable and optimized synthesized CFC/BiOBr/Bi 2 S 3 –2 shows exceptional activity towards hexavalent chromium with the removal efficiency of 91%. The excellent reduction performance is attributed to the individual charge transport path of Z-scheme, which provides the driving force for photocarriers transport and excellent redox ability. In addition, the tight interfacial contact between BiOBr and Bi 2 S 3 by sharing bismuth atoms allows for rapid charge transfer and accelerates photogenerated carrier separation. This study provides some constructive insights for developing an immobilized membrane-shaped photocatalyst with excellent photocatalytic activity and easy recovery to treat chrome-containing wastewater, which has a promising application in the field of water remediation.