A novel BiOCl@Bi-carbon heterojunction derived from Bi-MOF as an efficient and recyclable photocatalyst for degradation of tetracycline

Antibiotics, particularly tetracycline (TC), are extensively used in medicine, agriculture, animal husbandry, and the food industry due to their bacteriostatic and antibacterial properties. However, the widespread use of antibiotics has led to serious consequences, particularly in the form of water pollution and the emergence of numerous antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. Therefore, it is essential to implement effective measures to mitigate these environmental impacts. In this paper, we introduce a novel BiOCl@Bi-carbon heterojunction derived from Bi-MOF. The synthesized samples were thoroughly characterized through various techniques. The results demonstrate that BiOCl was successfully synthesized on the surface of Bi-MOF via in situ transformation, and that Bi-MOF was converted into Bi-doped porous carbon (Bi-carbon) after high-temperature annealing treatment. The coupling of BiOCl with Bi-carbon significantly enhances the photocurrent density. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was effectively evaluated by measuring the degradation of TC, with BiOCl@Bi-carbon demonstrating the highest photocatalytic efficiency, achieving a degradation rate of 96.27 % for TC. Additionally, BiOCl@Bi-carbon exhibits excellent stability. Its outstanding photocatalytic performance indicates significant potential for practical applications. Furthermore, we analyze the mechanism underlying the photocatalytic degradation of TC at the end of the study.