Facile synthesis of Bi2MoO6/ZnSnO3 heterojunction with enhanced visible light photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

Highlights: • Novel Bi₂MoO₆/ZnSnO₃ visible-light-driven photocatalysts was synthesized via a facile solvothermal method. • Bi₂MoO₆/ZnSnO₃ composites exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity for MB than that of Bi₂MoO₆. • The recyclability of 5-Bi₂MoO₆/ZnSnO₃ composites was highly feasible. • The photodegradation mechanism of Bi₂MoO₆/ZnSnO₃ composites was elucidated. In this paper, visible-light-driven Bi₂MoO₆/ZnSnO₃ (BMZ) hybrid photocatalysts were successful fabricated by a combined solvothermal (160 °C, 6 h) and annealing steps (450 °C, 1 h). Systematical characterization methods including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms (BET), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS) were implemented to further analyze the obtained hybrids. The photocatalytic properties were investigated against degrading methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. Obviously, BMZ hybrid photocatalysts displayed better photocatalytic performance compared with the bare Bi₂MoO₆ and ZnSnO₃. Particularly, the highest photocatalytic activity was obtained by the 5-BMZ composite with the degradation efficiency of approximate 95%, which was up to 1.27 times and 7.31 times higher in comparison with pure Bi₂MoO₆ and ZnSnO₃, respectively. The superior photocatalytic performances may be derived from the formation of heterojunction and presence of active species including ${\text{O}}_2^{-}$ and h⁺. Finally, a possible photocatalytic mechanism for improved photocatalytic activity was proposed.