Constructing heterojunction photocatalyst with nanosized interface via a facile strategy for achieving enhanced photocatalytic activity

This work reports on the construction of a Bi₂MoO₆/ZnO heterojunction photocatalyst via a simple two-step solvothermal method. The X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy results confirm the formation of Bi₂MoO₆/ZnO heterojunction. Bi₂MoO₆/ZnO photocatalyst exhibits higher photocatalytic activity than Bi₂MoO₆ or ZnO alone under visible light irradiation, in which the main active species are ·OH and ·O₂ ⁻. The mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic activity is proposed. The heterojunction between Bi₂MoO₆ and ZnO could effectively promote the interfacial charge transfer and decrease the combination of photoinduced electrons and holes during the photocatalytic process. Furthermore, lots of nanosized heterojunction could provide massive reactive sites and enhance the photocatalytic performance. This novel photocatalyst demonstrates potential application for organic pollutant elimination and proposes insights for designing highly efficient heterojunction photocatalysts.