Enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity of bismuth oxide via the decoration of titanium carbide quantum dots.

Abstract In Ti3C2 quantum dots (Ti3C2 QDs)/Bi2O3 photocatalysts system, Ti3C2 QDs can act as a co-catalyst to greatly boost the photocatalytic performance of Bi2O3. Ti3C2 QDs with excellent light adsorption ability can improve the light response of the system, and the fascinating electronic property can function as a channel for electron transfer. Moreover, Ti3C2 QDs possess larger specific area and more active edge atoms thanks to the size effect. The best Ti3C2 QDs/Bi2O3 composite with the loading amounts of 75 mL of Ti3C2 QDs solution showed much higher photocatalytic performance (nearly 5.85 times) for tetracycline (TC) degradation than that of pristine Bi2O3 under visible light irradiation. These different photocatalytic performances shed light on the key role of Ti3C2 QDs in stimulating the photocatalytic activity of Bi2O3. Moreover, Ti3C2 QDs/Bi2O3 composites exhibited excellent stability in recycling experiments and actual water sample treatment.