Fabrication of a visible-light In2S3/BiPO4 heterojunction with enhanced photocatalytic activity

The construction of a heterojunction is an effective way to improve the photocatalytic activity of a semiconductor. In this study, to improve the photocatalytic activity of BiPO4 in visible light and the quantum yield of In2S3, a novel In2S3/BiPO4 heterojunction photocatalyst was successfully synthesized via a solvothermal method. XRD and TEM characterizations reveal that In2S3 was irregularly loaded on the surface of BiPO4, leading to good dispersion of In2S3, greatly improving the catalyst active site. Meanwhile, In2S3 also greatly improves the visible light absorption of BiPO4. An ESR spin-trap technique and trapping experiments on active species indicate that O-2(-) and h(+) are the main activated species during the photodegradation process. Finally, the as-obtained In2S3/BiPO4 heterojunction exhibits higher photocatalytic activity than those of pure In2S3 and BiPO4 for the photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and tetracycline (TC). This work provides a promising way to photodegrade organic materials to reduce water pollution.