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Design of novel p–n heterojunction ZnBi2O4-ZnS photocatalysts with impressive photocatalytic and antibacterial activities under visible light

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Abstract

Heterojunction structures have attracted considerable attention for enhancing electron migration across interfaces. In this report, ZnBi2O4–ZnS(12%) heterojunction photocatalysts was found to be capable of degrading over 94% of indigo carmine in a 15 mg/L solution within 90 min of visible light irradiation at a catalytic dose of 1.0 g/L and pH 4. Furthermore, more than 82% of the total organic carbon (TOC) was removed, confirming the almost complete mineralization of the indigo carmine by ZnBi2O4–ZnS(12%). Moreover, the photocatalyst exhibited high stability and retained its photocatalytic activity up to the 5th cycle of operation without photocorrosion. The dramatic enhancement in the visible-light photocatalytic performance of the ZnBi2O4–ZnS heterojunctions over pristine ZnBi2O4 and ZnS was due to the formation of a superior heterojunction between the n-type semiconductor, ZnS, and the p-type semiconductor, ZnBi2O4. This heterojunction facilitated the separation and transfer of the photoinduced electron at the interfaces of the two semiconductors. Furthermore, the ZnBi2O4–ZnS(12%) exhibited an inhibition zone of 15 mm against fecal Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739), with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 150 μg/mL. These results demonstrated that the novel ZnBi2O4–ZnS p–n-type heterojunction is a promising visible-light active photo-catalyst for the degradation of organic pollutants and inhibition of fecal E. coli.

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The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) under grant number CSCL 14.02/22-23.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

    Bui The Huy, Nguyen Thi Mai Tho & Nguyen Quoc Thang

  2. Department of Chemistry, Changwon National University, Changwon, 51140, Korea

    Bui The Huy

  3. Hochiminh City Institute of Resources Geography, Tay Nguyen Institute of Scientific Research, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Pham Tuan Nhi

  4. Institute of Applied Mechanics and Informatics, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Ngo Thi Tuong Vy, Dang Nguyen Nha Khanh & Nguyen Thi Kim Phuong

  5. Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Do Trung Sy

  6. Center for Research and Technology Transfer, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Bui Quang Minh

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  1. Bui The Huy
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  2. Pham Tuan Nhi
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  3. Ngo Thi Tuong Vy
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  4. Dang Nguyen Nha Khanh
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  5. Nguyen Thi Mai Tho
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  6. Nguyen Quoc Thang
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  8. Bui Quang Minh
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  9. Nguyen Thi Kim Phuong
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Contributions

BTH: investigation, visualization. PTN, NTTV, DNNK, NTMT, NQT, DTS, and BQM: validation, investigation. NTKP: conceptualization, resources, writing-original draft, writing-review and editing, supervision. All authors read, commented, and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Nguyen Thi Kim Phuong.

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Huy, B.T., Nhi, P.T., Vy, N.T.T. et al. Design of novel p–n heterojunction ZnBi2O4-ZnS photocatalysts with impressive photocatalytic and antibacterial activities under visible light. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 84471–84486 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-21810-w

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