Work

Ternary synergy: a TiO₂/BiVO₄/AC composite for sustainable water purification

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: A ternary TiO₂/BiVO₄/activated carbon (AC) heterostructure was synthesized and evaluated for photocatalytic degradation of phenol and methylene blue (MB) under UVA and visible light. Structural and optical analyses confirmed an S-scheme TiO₂–BiVO₄ junction uniformly distributed on porous AC, with reduced band gap (2.41 eV). AC incorporation enhanced adsorption, light absorption, and charge separation. The composite achieved up to 99% phenol removal and 96% MB degradation under UVA, retained ~ 81% efficiency after five cycles, and showed broad-spectrum activity. Radical scavenging indicated valence band holes and superoxide radicals as dominant species. The synergistic charge separation, adsorption, and extended photoresponse make TiO₂/BiVO₄/AC a promising photocatalyst for water purification.

Source: Applied Water Science

DOI: 10.1007/s13201-026-02755-8

Authors: Roya Shirzad Fakhrabad, Sakineh Ghasemzadeh, Hassan Hosseini-Monfared

Institution: Amirkabir University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,490