Crystal structures, morphological, optical, adsorption, kinetic and photocatalytic degradation studies of activated carbon loaded BiOBr nanoplates prepared by solvothermal method

Herein, the activated carbon (AC) loaded BiOBr nanoplates (AC-BiOBr) was synthesized by solvothermal method. The characterizations were done by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) to perceive the morphology, composition, inner structure, and phase of prepared samples respectively. FESEM images revealed that BiOBr is composed of variable sizes of microspheres, constructed by many interlaced nanoplates. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirms the stability and purity of samples. The as-prepared activated loaded composites were evaluated via the removal of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye under visible light. The AC-BiOBr nanocomposites exhibited superior adsorption capacity, consequently improved photocatalytic efficiency. The better degradation efficiency of the AC-BiOBr nanocomposite is attributed to higher the adsorption capacity of dye on its surface, and enhanced charge separation through adsorbed O-2 in AC. Kinetic parameters like pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order were determined. The adsorption of RhB dye on AC-BiOBr follows the second-order kinetic model. Langmuir adsorption isotherm is the most fitted isotherm for adsorption of RhB dye on AC-BiOBr. The composite surface provides the more adsorption surface sites for photodegradation, in addition, could restrict the toxic intermediates to release in air or solution phase.