BiVO4/MoS2 n–n heterojunction for enhanced solar-driven seawater antibiotic degradation and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution†

Bifunctional photocatalysts for hydrogen production and antibiotic degradation in seawater present significant potential for addressing marine environmental issues and tackling the energy crisis. However, their rapid electron–hole recombination rate and instability in the marine conditions hinder their practical applications. In this work, BiVO₄/MoS₂ n–n heterojunctions (BM) were synthesized by an in situ solvothermal method, resulting in rod-like BiVO₄ and flower-like MoS₂ forming n–n heterojunctions. Owing to the creation of a Z-scheme heterostructure, the BMs exhibited superior charge separation efficiency and enhanced redox capacity. Among the various ratios tested, the photocatalytic performance of 40 wt% BM was the most superior, achieving a hydrogen evolution efficiency 87.3 times higher than that of BiVO₄ and a degradation rate 3 times greater than that of BiVO₄. In addition, the photocatalytic mechanism of BM was investigated based on radical trapping and electron spin resonance, confirming the crucial roles of ˙O₂⁻ and h⁺ in the photocatalytic process. This research paves the way for the advancement of innovative multifunctional heterostructures.