Facile Formation of Bi(2)O(2)CO(3)/Bi(2)MoO(6) Nanosheets for Visible Light-Driven Photocatalysis

[Image: see text] Bi(2)O(2)CO(3)/Bi(2)MoO(6) heterojunction catalysts were prepared by treating Bi(2)MoO(6) sheets with aqueous NaHCO(3) solutions at room temperature. All the Bi(2)O(2)CO(3)/Bi(2)MoO(6) heterojunctions exhibited higher activities than pristine Bi(2)MoO(6) in the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB), methyl orange, and ciprofloxacin under visible-light irradiation, and the most active photocatalyst was found to be the one with a C/Bi molar ratio of ∼1/2.3. Relevant samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, N(2) adsorption–desorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and UV–vis spectroscopy. The higher activity of Bi(2)O(2)CO(3)/Bi(2)MoO(6) than pristine Bi(2)MoO(6) is explained by the enhanced separation and transfer of photogenerated electron/hole pairs, as verified by transient photocurrent densities, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Photogenerated holes (h(+)) and superoxide radical anions ((•)O(2)(–)) were found to be the main active species. The good reusability of Bi(2)O(2)CO(3)/Bi(2)MoO(6) was testified by cycling degradation of RhB and tetracycline hydrochloride.