One-step solvothermal synthesis of Bi2WO6/Bi4O5I2 heterojunctions with enhanced photocatalytic performance for tetracycline degradation

Abstract

This study introduces a simple one-step solvothermal method for synthesizing a three-dimensional flower-like Bi₂WO₆/Bi₄O₅I₂ (BWO/BOI) heterojunction photocatalyst, offering a low-energy, efficient alternative to conventional multi-step preparation routes. The optimized 20% BWO/BOI composite exhibits exceptional photocatalytic performance, degrading 88% of tetracycline within 60 minutes – a rate 7.5 times higher than that of pure Bi₄O₅I₂. This enhancement is attributed to the effective formation of a heterojunction structure and a significant increase in specific surface area, which promote charge separation and provide abundant active sites. This work provides a facile synthesis strategy for advanced heterojunction photocatalysts with strong potential for antibiotic pollutant remediation in water.