All-solid-state Z-scheme system of RGO-Cu2O/Bi2O3 for tetracycline degradation under visible-light irradiation

•The RGO-Cu2O/Bi2O3 composite was developed by solvent thermal method.•RGO-Cu2O/Bi2O3 exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performance for TC than RGO-Cu2O and RGO-Bi2O.•RGO played an important role in Z-scheme electron transfer.

A series of RGO-Cu2O/Bi2O3 composite photocatalysts was developed by depositing Cu2O and Bi2O3 nanocrystals on the surface of RGO via an in situ precipitation method. The Cu2O and Bi2O3 nanocrystals distributed uniformly and separately on RGO, which favored the transfer of photogenerated electrons and holes towards an effective path. Compared with RGO-Cu2O and RGO-Bi2O3, the three-component RGO-Cu2O/Bi2O3 composites presented a further improvement on the photodegradation of tetracycline (TC) under visible light irradiation, which can be attributed to the construction of a Z-scheme photocatalytic system where the RGO served as a solid-state medium for the transfer of the photogenerated electrons from the conduction band of Bi2O3 to the valence band of Cu2O.