Degradation Performance of Heterojunction Photocatalyst Bi4O5I2/Bi7O9I3 for Ciprofloxacin Solution

doi:10.11901/1005.3093.2025.187

Chinese Journal of Materials Research

2026, Vol. 40

Issue (5): 321-332 DOI: 10.11901/1005.3093.2025.187

Special Section on Photocatalysis

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Degradation Performance of Heterojunction Photocatalyst Bi₄O₅I₂/Bi₇O₉I₃ for Ciprofloxacin Solution

YU Hanbo¹^,²^,³, HU Yan¹, XU Tingting¹^,², ZHANG Yiwen¹, ZHANG Chi¹^,², TAN Jiewen¹, LI Yongxiang¹^,², WANG Han⁴(

)

^1.School of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China
^2.Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha 410114, China
^3.School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China
^4.School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China

Cite this article:

YU Hanbo, HU Yan, XU Tingting, ZHANG Yiwen, ZHANG Chi, TAN Jiewen, LI Yongxiang, WANG Han. Degradation Performance of Heterojunction Photocatalyst Bi₄O₅I₂/Bi₇O₉I₃ for Ciprofloxacin Solution. Chinese Journal of Materials Research, 2026, 40(5): 321-332.

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Abstract

A novel heterojunction photocatalyst of Bi-rich bismuth oxyiodides (Bi₄O₅I₂/Bi₇O₉I₃) was synthesized via regulation of the alkalinity of solvent and followed by calcination, while its degradation performance was examined for ciprofloxacin (CIP) solution. The results showed that the structurally optimized composite heterogeneous catalyst Bi₄O₅I₂/Bi₇O₉I₃-3 exhibits excellent adsorption and photodegradation performance for CIP 20 mg/L solution. Its adsorption rate reaches 88.1% in dark conditions for 60 min, and then subsequently under a simulated sunlight irradiation for 30 min, the CIP is completely degraded. The Bi₄O₅I₂/Bi₇O₉I₃ presents a microsphere morphology composed of nanoparticles and nanosheets. Meanwhile, its large specific surface area provides abundant active sites for the catalytic reaction, and the formed type-II heterojunction with band cross-arrangement can accelerate the charge transfer. Furthermore, the holes (h⁺) are the main active substances for the degradation of CIP in the heterojunction Bi₄O₅I₂/Bi₇O₉I₃, while superoxide free radicals ( $⋅$ O $2 -$ ) and hydroxyl free radicals ( $⋅$ OH) hardly participated in the reaction, thus making them high activity even in an oxygen-depleted environment or in an environment with free radical competition.

Key words: composite Bi₄O₅I₂/Bi₇O₉I₃ photocatalysis ciprofloxacin

Received: 03 June 2025

ZTFLH:

TB331

Fund: National Natural Science Foundation of China(52400202);National Natural Science Foundation of China(22306204);Hunan Provincial Department of Education Funded Research Projects(24C0149);Hunan Province Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for College Students(S202510536125)

Corresponding Authors: WANG Han, Tel: 13548699620, E-mail: han.wang@csu.edu.cn

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	YU Hanbo
	HU Yan
	XU Tingting
	ZHANG Yiwen
	ZHANG Chi
	TAN Jiewen
	LI Yongxiang
	WANG Han

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https://www.cjmr.org/EN/10.11901/1005.3093.2025.187 OR https://www.cjmr.org/EN/Y2026/V40/I5/321

Fig.1 Flowchart of the preparation of different sample

Fig.2 XRD patterns of Bi4/Bi7-3, Bi4-S1, Bi4-S2, SP and Bi7 samples

Fig.3 XPS spectrum of Bi4/Bi7-3 (a) survey spectrum, (b) Bi 4f, (c) O 1s, (d) I 3d

Fig.4 SEM images of SP (a, b), Bi4/Bi7-3 (c, d) and elemental mapping images of Bi4/Bi7-3 (e-g)

Fig.5 TEM images of Bi4/Bi7-3 composite (a, b) and pristine Bi4-S1 (c, d)

Fig.6 N₂ adsorption-desorption diagram of Bi4/Bi7-3, Bi4-S1 and Bi4-S2

Fig.7 UV-Vis DRS spectra (a) and Tauc Plots (b) of different samples

Fig.8 Degradation curves and kinetics of CIP on materials prepared by different temperature (a, b), pH value (c, d) and ratio of Bi/I (e, f), adsorption efficiencies of CIP on materials prepared by different Bi/I (g), degradation curves (h) and kinetics (i) of CIP on Bi4/Bi7-3, Bi4-S1, Bi4-S2, and Bi7 samples

Table 1 Comparison of the degradation effect of CIP by bismuth-based photocatalysts

Fig.9 Effects of coexisting ions (a) and waters (b) on the degradation of CIP

Fig.10 Recycling runs of Bi4/Bi7-3 for degradation of CIP (a), SEM image (b) and XRD patterns (c) of the used catalyst

Fig.11 Transient photocurrent response (a), Nyquist plots (b) and PL spectra (c) of as-prepared catalysts

Fig.12 Mott-Schottky plots of as-prepared catalysts

Fig.13 Effects of trapping agents on the degradation of CIP (a) and TOC removal efficiency of Bi4/Bi7-3 (b)

Fig.14 Photocatalytic degradation mechanism of CIP

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