Chemical etching preparation of BiOI/Bi2O3 heterostructures with enhanced photocatalytic activities

BiOI/Bi2O3 heterostructures, prepared by a facile chemical etching method, exhibit excellent photocatalytic activities on the degradation of phenol and 4-chlorophenol (4-CP). The enhanced photocatalytic performance of BiOI/Bi2O3 samples is attributed to the efficient separation of electron–hole pairs caused by the formation of BiOI–Bi2O3 heterojunction. The relationship between BiOI amounts and photocatalytic activities was investigated, and a photogenerated charge transfer process was proposed.

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► ♦BiOI/Bi2O3 heterostructures were prepared by a facile chemical etching method.
► ♦BiOI/Bi2O3 heterostructures exhibit enhanced photocatalytic performances.
► ♦The formation of BiOI–Bi2O3 heterojunction and strong visible light absorptivity lead to excellent photocatalytic performances of BiOI/Bi2O3 samples.