Synthesis of Co₃O₄ Nanoparticles-Decorated Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂ Hierarchical Microspheres for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of RhB and BPA

Three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical microspheres of Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂ (BOC) were prepared via a facile solvothermal method using a binary solvent for the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine-B (RhB) and Bisphenol-A (BPA). Co₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs)-decorated BOC (Co₃O₄/BOC) heterostructures were synthesized to further enhance their photocatalytic performance. The microstructural, morphological, and compositional characterization showed that the BOC microspheres are composed of thin (~20 nm thick) nanosheets with a 3D hierarchical morphology and a high surface area. Compared to the pure BOC photocatalyst, the 20-Co₃O₄/BOC heterostructure showed enhanced degradation efficiency of RhB (97.4%) and BPA (88.4%). The radical trapping experiments confirmed that superoxide (^•O₂⁻) radicals played a primary role in the photocatalytic degradation of RhB and BPA. The enhanced photocatalytic performances of the hierarchical Co₃O₄/BOC heterostructure are attributable to the synergetic effects of the highly specific surface area, the extension of light absorption to the more visible light region, and the suppression of photoexcited electron-hole recombination. Our developed nanocomposites are beneficial for the construction of other bismuth-based compounds and their heterostructure for use in high-performance photocatalytic applications.