Preparation of several Z-scheme CuBi2O4/Bi2O3 photocatalyst films loaded on different metal foils for efficient methylene blue degradation with synchronous hydrogen evolution

The Z-scheme CuBi2O4/Bi2O3 photocatalyst films were prepared on copper foil, titanium foil and 430-stainless steel foil, respectively, by using incomplete solid-state reaction method. The photocatalytic organic pollutants degradation and simultaneous hydrogen production were achieved on both sides of the metal foils, respectively. The microstructure, composition and performance of photocatalyst films were studied through XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, EDX, TPR, PL and EIS. In photocatalytic MB degradation and hydrogen evolution experiments, the influences of the Bi(OH)3 precipitation spin-coating number, calcination temperature and calcination time on the photocatalytic activity of Z-scheme CuBi2O4/Bi2O3 photocatalyst films were investigated. The effects of the three different metal foils were comprehensively compared when the experimental conditions of 2 coating layer Bi (OH)3 precipitation, 500 degrees C calcination temperature, 2.0 h calcination time and 10 mg/L and 50 mg/L MB concentrations were adopted. Experimental results show that Cu|CuBi2O4/Bi2O3 photocatalyst film has the best photocatalytic performance in three photocatalyst films. MB degradation ratio and H2 evolution amount are 92.90% and 491.07 mu mol/dm2, respectively, for Cu|CuBi2O4/Bi2O3 photocatalyst film under visible light irradiation for 180 min, and that for Ti|CuBi2O4/Bi2O3 photocatalyst film and SSF|CuBi2O4/Bi2O3 photocatalyst film they are 89.70% and 415.18 mu mol/dm2, 83.90% and 401.79 mu mol/dm2, respectively. The MB degradation and H2 evolution mechanisms of the Z-scheme CuBi2O4/Bi2O3 photocatalytic system were proposed. In theory, this method may have broad application prospects in repairing organic wastewater and large-scale hydrogen evolution.