Multiple charge carrier transfer pathways in BiOBr/Bi2O3/BiO0.67F1.66 ternary composite with high adsorption and photocatalytic performance

BiOBr/Bi2O3/BiO0.67F1.66 ternary composites were designed and prepared via a facile chemical precipitation method and their photocatalytic performances were assessed by degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light illumination. The highest activity was achieved over BiOBr/Bi2O3/BiO0.67F1.66 ternary composite with Br/F molar ratio of 1:1, which approximately degraded 98.61% of RhB after just 15min irradiation. Contrast to pure BiOBr, the enhanced photocatalytic performances of the ternary composites could be attributed to their larger specific surface areas and multiple charge carrier transfer pathways, which efficiently promoted separation of charge carriers. Besides, the formation mechanism of the composites was discussed in detail as well. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.