Dual Piezo-/Photocatalytic Synergistic Coupling in Ag NP Decoration BiOIO3 Composites for Efficient Degradation of Organic Pollutants

Abstract

Ag nanoparticle (NP)-decorated BiOIO3 composites (Ag-BiOIO3) have been synthesized via a simple solid-state chemical reaction and photoreduction methods. Experimental investigations confirmed the excellent photo-piezocatalytic degradation performance of Ag-BiOIO3, such as a high kinetic coefficient (k = 0.1749 min–1) and degradation efficiency of 97.1% within 20 min toward the Rhodamine B (RhB) dye pollutant. These performances were notably superior to the conditions with piezocatalysis or photocatalysis alone. Moreover, Ag-BiOIO3 composites had not only excellent catalytic activity but also good cyclic stability. The catalytic mechanism of Ag-BiOIO3 was further explored on the basis of relevant characterizations. The synergistic coupling of piezocatalysis and photocatalysis, together with the strong piezoelectric field and surface plasmon resonance (SPR), effectively promoted charge carrier separation, thereby enhancing the photo-piezocatalytic degradation performance of Ag-BiOIO3. This research is of significant importance for the development of high-performance catalysts in the field of wastewater treatment.