Constructing a Z-scheme 3D hollow pineal-like AgBr/Bi₂O₂CO₃ hybrid material based on ameliorated p-n heterostructure towards exorbitant photocatalytic performance

Highlights: • AgBr sensitized 3D hollow pineal-like Bi₂O₂CO₃ via a simple solvothermal method. • The 20%ABOC photocatalyst exhibits high photocatalytic activity. • The Z-scheme charge transport mechanism based on p-n heterostructure resulted in enhanced catalytic activity. • .• O²⁻ and h⁺ are the main reactive oxygen species. -- Abstract: Interfacial charge transfer acts as a linchpin role in the research of photogenerated carrier recombination and photocatalysis. In this work, AgBr/Bi₂O₂CO₃ was constructed to explore the structure-activity relationship between heterostructure and catalytic mechanism. The excellent photosensitizer silver bromide nanoparticles were immobilized on the surface of the Bi₂O₂CO₃ hollow pineal-like via a simple hydrothermal method and deliberated the formation mechanism of the heterostructure. The heterostructures were characterized through XRD, BET, XPS, SEM, TEM, EDX, UV–Vis DRS, EIS, PT and TOC. Research demonstrates that owing to the distinct layered structure exhibits fine surface scattering and reflection. It has excellent degradation performance for dyes and PPCPs wastewater and can be completely degraded in a short time. Simultaneously, the introduction of the Z-type mechanism into the p-n type heterojunction photocatalyst, together with the joint contribution of the Schottky barrier, extremely facilitates the charge separation, illustrating brilliant photocatalysis active. Furthermore, Free radical capture experiments certificate that • O²⁻ and h⁺ are the chief active species in the decomposition of organic pollutants, and the potential photocatalytic mechanism is considered. The consequences of this work will furnish a fresh perspective for the configuration of high-performance visible light-responsive photocatalysts.