Enhanced Photocatalytic Antibiotic Degradation Through BiOBr/TiO2 Heterojunction Engineering: Synergistic Charge Separation and Band Alignment Effects

doi:10.1007/s40242-025-5108-7

Abstract

Abstract: Herein, a BiOBr/TiO₂ heterojunction photocatalyst engineered via controlled solvothermal synthesis demonstrates exceptional oxytetracycline (OTC) degradation efficiency. Comprehensive characterization [scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)] confirmed the successful formation of a BiOBr/TiO₂ heterostructure. Subsequent analyses [transient photocurrent (TPR), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)] verified optimized band alignment, achieving 87.8% OTC removal within 90 min (a 3.39-fold enhancement over pristine BiOBr). Mechanistic studies revealed dual degradation pathways involving radicals (·O₂^-/·OH) and direct hole oxidation. The heterojunction significantly extended carrier lifetime (EIS arc radius reduced by 68%) while maintaining sufficient redox potentials. Furthermore, the catalyst exhibited robust stability (>75% efficiency after 8 cycles) and practical applicability in a simulated wastewater system. This work provides new insights and data for efficient antibiotic removal and establishes fundamental principles for heterojunction engineering in antibiotic remediation.

Key words: Heterojunction, Photocatalytic degradation, Oxytetracycline, Synergistic charge separation, Band alignment effect

LUO Yingqi, YANG Xiaoxiao, SUN Hejia, WANG Ning, LIU Yonghong, LI Yunfeng. Enhanced Photocatalytic Antibiotic Degradation Through BiOBr/TiO₂ Heterojunction Engineering: Synergistic Charge Separation and Band Alignment Effects[J]. Chemical Research in Chinese Universities, 2026, 42(1): 283-293.

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Enhanced Photocatalytic Antibiotic Degradation Through BiOBr/TiO₂ Heterojunction Engineering: Synergistic Charge Separation and Band Alignment Effects

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