Formulating InVO 4 /α-Fe 2 O 3 Heterojunction Composites for Photocatalytic Tetracycline Hydrochloride Degradation.

This study reports the synthesis of InVO 4 /α-Fe 2 O 3 heterojunction photocatalysts with different stoichiometric ratios via a two-step hydrothermal synthesis reaction. The prepared photocatalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, and other methods. The prepared composites exhibited good photocatalysis of tetracycline hydrochloride. Among the InVO 4 /α-Fe 2 O 3 heterojunction photocatalysts with different ratios, the InVO 4 /0.25α-Fe 2 O 3 photocatalyst showed the highest degradation rate for 20 mg L -1 tetracycline hydrochloride. After three photocatalytic runs, it still exhibited excellent stability and reusability. Meanwhile, this study also found that superoxide radical anion (-O 2- ), electron (e - ), hydroxyl radical (·OH), and photogenerated hole (h + ) are the basic active substances in the photocatalytic process.