LAUSR

Abstract Novel black oxygen deficient bismuth oxide (Bi2O3-Bi2O3–x) photocatalytic material is successfully prepared by a two zone temperature controlled muffle furnace method. The lanthanum, cerium and erbium ions are successfully doped into Bi2O3-Bi2O3–x with the average contents of 10.77%, 7.62% and 8.14%, respectively. The results show that a large number of oxygen vacancies existence in Bi2O3-Bi2O3–x. La3+, Ce3+ and Er3+ act as electron acceptors to temporarily trap the photo-generated electrons. The XPS spectrum show Bi-O band in Bi2O3-Bi2O3–x and the O 1s peak of Ce/Bi2O3-Bi2O3–x move toward the direction of low binding energy. These phenomena fully proved that the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs will be more effectual, so as to reduce the possibility of charge carrier recombination. The radical scavenging experiments and Electron spin resonance detections confirmed the conduction band of the original Bi2O3 can easily receive photogenerated electrons, while the valence band of the modified Bi2O3-Bi2O3–x tend to accept photogenerated holes and then form the circulation system. Therefore, Ce/Bi2O3-Bi2O3–x can degrade tetracycline hydrochloride up to 90.15%. This research provides some new insights into developing green and recyclable photocatalysts for the remediation of antibiotic contamination.