Relationship of structure and enhanced photocatalytic activity of S-scheme BiOCl/g-C3N4 heterojunction for xanthate removal under visible light

[Display omitted] •S-scheme BiOCl/g-C3N4 heterojunction was successfully constructed by a facile hydrothermal method.•The hybrid photocatalyst performed outstanding xanthate photodegradation activity.•The S-scheme mechanism hastens the separation and transfer of photocarriers.•The possible mechanisms for enhanced photocatalytic activity were analyzed under visible light. Constructing heterojunctions is an excellent way to enhance the photocatalytic property of semiconductors. Herein, a range of S-scheme BiOCl/g-C3N4 heterojunctions with varying mass ratios were designed using a facile hydrothermal route, and their photocatalytic ability was assessed by degrading the ethyl xanthate (EX) under visible light (λ > 400 nm). The results showed that the degradation efficiency of BiOCl/g-C3N4-0.1 heterojunction for EX was up to 91.2 % within 180 min, and its apparent rate constants (Kapp) were 4.3 and 11 times greater than those of BiOCl and g-C3N4, respectively. The experimental and characterization results revealed that the excellent photocatalytic property was ascribed to the construction of S-scheme heterojunctions. Such structure not only enhanced the visible light response but also facilitated the efficient separation of photoinduced carriers with the S-scheme transfer route, retaining strong redox-capable holes and electrons to participate in surface reactions. Furthermore, the cycling experiments indicated that the fabricated photocatalysts have great recyclability and stability. Based on the results of active substance capture, the S-scheme charge transfer model was proposed and the photodegradation mechanism of EX was reasonably elucidated. Overall, this work offers some theoretical direction for the design and construction of S-scheme heterojunctions with superior visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance.