Construction of a Ce3+ doped CeO2/Bi2MoO6 heterojunction with a mutual component activation system for highly enhancing the visible-light photocatalytic activity for removal of TC or Cr(vi)

Abstract

Developing heterojunction photocatalysts with more efficient charge carrier transfer and separation is of huge significance in environmental engineering. Herein, a Ce³⁺ doped CeO₂/Bi₂MoO₆ (C-BMO) heterojunction was designed and fabricated via a facile molten salt-assisted route. Under 5 W white LED light irradiation, the 20% C-BMO heterojunction exhibited a much higher maximum degradation rate of tetracycline (TC) (91%) as compared with the individual CeO₂ (58%) and Bi₂MoO₆ (44%) within 180 min. Meanwhile, the removal rate of the 20% C-BMO heterojunction for dichromate (Cr(VI)) (97%) was higher than that of CeO₂ (30%) and Bi₂MoO₆ (19%) within 90 min. The enhanced capabilities were ascribed to a synergetic effect of the mutual activation system based on the formation of a Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺ redox couple between the 0D CeO₂ nanoparticles and 2D Bi₂MoO₆ nanosheets. The facile molten salt-assisted strategy and efficient performance endow the C-BMO heterojunctions with high potential for photo-oxidation and reduction of pollutants from actual wastewater.