Facile synthesis of GO as middle carrier modified flower-like BiOBr and C3N4 nanosheets for simultaneous treatment of chromium(VI) and tetracycline

A g-C3N4/GO/BiOBr ternary Z-scheme composite was fabricated by the hydrothermal method and applied it in dealing with combined pollutants of tetracycline (TC) and Cr(VI) simultaneously. [Display omitted] A novel GO modified g-C3N4 nanosheets/flower-like BiOBr hybrid photocatalyst is fabricated by a facile method. The characterization results reveal that wrinkled GO is deposited between g-C3N4 nanosheets and flower-like BiOBr forming a Z-scheme heterojunction. As a mediator, plicate GO plays a positive role in prompting photogenerated electrons transferring through its sizeable 2D/2D contact surface area. The g-C3N4/GO/BiOBr hybrid displays a superior photocatalytic ability to g-C3N4 and BiOBr in photodegrading tetracycline (TC), whose removal efficiency could reach 96% within 2h. Besides, g-C3N4/GO/BiOBr composite can reduce Cr(VI), and simultaneously treat TC and Cr(VI) combination contaminant under the visible light. The g-C3N4/GO/BiOBr ternary composite also exhibits satisfactory stability and reusability after four cycling experiments. Further, a feasible mechanism related to the photocatalytic process of g-C3N4/GO/BiOBr is put forward. This study offers a ternary hybrid photocatalyst with eco-friendliness and hopeful application in water pollution.