Fabrication and Modularization of Li(NiCoAl)/Bi(K)OCl Three-Dimensional Intercalated Photocatalysts by Using Cathode Materials of Retired Lithium Batteries and Their Particular Photocatalytic Performance

In this paper, powder Li(NiCoAl)-x/Bi(K)OCl₆ and modular Li(NiCoAl)-5/Bi(K)OCl₆@PSA photocatalysts with unique oxidation properties were successfully constructed by a simple synthesis strategy using the cathode material Li(NiCoAl)O₂ of a retired lithium battery as a precursor. The as-prepared Li(NiCoAl)-x/Bi(K)OCl₆ powder photocatalysts show excellent photocatalytic oxidation abilities for degrading typical organic pollutants (OPs) in water and depolymerizing natural lignin to prepare vanillin due to their particular three-dimensional intercalated microstructures, unique photoelectric properties, and improved photogenerated carrier (e^––h⁺) separation efficiencies. The as-prepared Li(NiCoAl)-5/Bi(K)OCl₆@PSA modular photocatalyst is convenient to separate and recover and has similar photocatalytic oxidation ability to the corresponding powder photocatalyst, so it has potential application value. Compared with the photocatalytic oxidation process, potassium peroxymonosulfate (KHSO₅) can be activated by Ni⁺² and Co⁺² low-valence transition-metal elements in Li(NiCoAl)-x/Bi(K)OCl₆ and Li(NiCoAl)-5/Bi(K)OCl₆@PSA, so the target degradation objects can be degraded more quickly in the synergistic advanced oxidation process. The recycling experiments show that the as-prepared Li(NiCoAl)-5/Bi(K)OCl₆@PSA modular photocatalyst has a high performance stability.