Face-to-face interfacial assembly of a hybrid NiAl-LDH@BiOIO3 photocatalyst for the effective solar-induced abatement of antibiotic and dye pollutants: Insights into surface engineering and S-scheme charge transfer

•A novel 2D/2D LDH@BOI catalyst with face-to-face interfacial contact was produced.•The catalyst had high sulfamethoxazole and Congo red degradation and mineralization.•EPR and in-situ-irradiated XPS confirmed S-scheme charge transfer within the hybrid system.•High activity is due to the face-to-face interfacial contact and S-scheme charge transfer.•The hybrid has high stability and recyclability over five successive test runs.