Enhanced Photodegradation of Tetracycline under UV-Visible Light with a Bi₂O₃/TiO₂ Composite

Bi2O3/TiO2 photocatalysts were successfully synthesized by the solvothermal method. Characterization using X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy showed excellent photodegradation of tetracycline under UV-visible light, compared to Bi2O3 or TiO2. This was due to reduced electron-hole recombination in the Bi2O3/TiO2 composite, as confirmed by photoluminescence characterization. The fabrication of semiconductor composites holds great promise for enhancing the photocatalytic performance, and Bi2O3/TiO2 is a prime example with exciting prospects for practical applications in photocatalysis.