Construction of a novel BON-Br-AgBr heterojunction photocatalysts as a direct Z-scheme system for efficient visible photocatalytic activity

A Z-scheme heterojunction of BON-Br-AgBr was firstly designed via simple two-step hydrothermal-precipitation method for the enhanced photocatalytic performance. The as-prepared BON-Br-AgBr possessed an enhanced photocatalytic activity for RB-19 degradation when compared with pure BON (13.82 times), BON-Br (8.44 times) and pure AgBr (2.48 times) under visible-light, respectively. The Z-scheme heterojunction BON-Br-AgBr was proved by many techniques. And the enhanced photocatalytic performance of BON-Br-AgBr might due to some increased active sites induced by introduction of Br− and the successful construction of Z-scheme heterojunction. Besides, the photocatalytic mechanism was also raised based on the trapping experiments and ESR analysis. The experiment process, photocatalytic performance of the BON-Br-AgBr, and the possible mechanism in degradation of RB-19 under visible-light irradiation. [Display omitted] •Heterojunction BON-Br-AgBr was designed via hydrothermal-precipitation method.•Halogenation and heterojunction strategies were adopted in fabricating BON-Br-AgBr.•BON-Br-AgBr showed excellent photocatalytic activity in degradation of RB-19.•Photocatalytic mechanism of BON-Br-AgBr Z-scheme heterojunction was proposed.