Di-functional Cu-doped BiOCl photocatalyst for degradation of organic pollutant and inhibition of cyanobacterial growth.

Photocatalytic oxidation of contaminants in water has recently gained extensive attentions. In this study, Cu-doped BiOCl microsphere photocatalysts were prepared using solvothermal method. The effects of Cu doping ratio on the morphological structures and photoelectric and photocatalytic properties of BiOCl were studied in detail. Results showed that Cu doping affected the particle size of BiOCl microspheres. The introduction of Cu ions gradually increased the light absorption range and decreased the electron recombination rate of photocatalysts as shown by ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection and photoluminescence spectra. The best doping ratio was 0.25 Cu-BiOCl, showing the highest photocatalytic activity for rhodamine B (14.25 time higher than BiOCl) and a good inhibition of algal growth. The main reactants in the photocatalytic system were·OH and h (electron holes). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further demonstrated that the doping of Cu ions made the photogenerated carriers in BiOCl easier to generate and ensured the charge was transferred more rapidly. In conclusion, a novel high-efficiency multifunctional photocatalyst is proposed for the efficient organic pollutants removal and algae growth inhibition from water.