Synthesis of Flowerlike g-C3N4/BiOBr with Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity for Dye Degradation

In this work, flowerlike g-C3N4/BiOBr Z-scheme composites were constructed by a simple solvothermal method. The physical and chemical properties of the material were characterized mainly by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photocatalytic performance of the as-prepared samples was measured by degradation of the model organic pollutant methyl orange (MO) dye and rhodamine B (RhB). The decrease in the chemical oxygen demand (COD) after the degradation of the two dyes was determined as well. During the degradation of MO, the decrease in the COD value reached 62.5%. By a capture experiment, the identities of the main radicals (OH, O-2(-)) in the photocatalysis experiment were further ascertained. The results indicate that g-C3N4/BiOBr displays excellent photocatalytic activity, which might be due to the formation of a heterojunction between g-C3N4 and BiOBr, resulting in efficient separation and transmission of electrons and holes.