Flower‐Like Ag6Si2O7/Bi12O17Cl2 p‐n Heterojunctions: Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity and Mechanistic Insight**

Abstract

AbstractPhotocatalytic degradation is one of the effective ways to remove dyes. Accelerating the separation of photogenerated charge is an effective method for high efficiency visible‐driven catalysis. Here, a potential flower‐like Ag6Si2O7/Bi12O17Cl2 p‐n heterojunctions were successfully prepared. Ag6Si2O7/Bi12O17Cl2 can achieve light capture in a wider range of visible light and provide directional channel for carrier to achieve more efficient space charge separation. The constructed Ag6Si2O7/Bi12O17Cl2 showed excellent photocatalytic removal of 25 mg/L (100 mL) Rhodamine B (RhB) within 20 min. The rate constant for RhB degradation was 0.202 min−1 by Ag6Si2O7/Bi12O17Cl2‐2 which was more than 3.6 times greater than Bi12O17Cl2 (0.055 min−1) and 3.2 times greater than Ag6Si2O7 (0.063 min−1). In addition, the results of free radical capture experiment indicate the ⋅OH plays a leading role in the photocatalytic degradation of RhB and a possible Z‐scheme charge transfer paths and the formation of active species over Ag6Si2O7/Bi12O17Cl2 was proposed to elucidate the reaction mechanism.