Synthesis and characterization of visible-light-driven La-doped p-n BiOCl/ZnO heterojunction photocatalyst: mechanism investigation of 3-Cholorophenol degradation

Herein, ZnO, BiOCl, lantanium-doped ZnO, BiOCl and BiOCl/ZnO catalysts were prepared using facile precipitation. Samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM–EDS), Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET), UV–vis diffuse reflectance (UV–vis DRS), photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and photoluminescence (PL) techniques. Lanthanum has apparently changed the peak of pure ZnO and BiOCl. The defect at the fermi level to investigate photocatalysis was supported by PL. Photocatalytic activity of the prepared catalysis was investigated using 3-cholorophenol (3-CP) under visible light irradiation. La-doped BiOCl/ZnO catalysis showed higher photocatalytic activity. Results were attributed to the inhibition of charges (electrons/holes). Photo-generated holes and superoxide ( h + , O 2 ∙ - ) radicals were main active species during the radical scavenging activity of 3-CP.