Construction of Bi2Sn2O7/Cu2O Z-type photocatalyst with enhanced tetracycline removal under visible light

Tetracycline (TC) contaminants have garnered significant attention in aquatic environments due to their potential impact on human health and their persistent presence over extended periods of time. Photocatalysis is a highly promising method for purifying contaminated water bodies using light energy. The present study investigated the viability of utilizing a Bi2Sn2O7/Cu2O Z photocatalyst for the remediation of water contaminated with tetracycline. When the precursor body copper chloride dihydrate content was 0.15 g and bismuth stannate doped with 0.10 g (Bi-Cu2), the combination showed the best effect on tetracycline removal. The photocatalytic reaction rate was 1.83 times that of Cu2O and 17.50 times that of Bi2Sn2O7, respectively. The findings from electron spin resonance (ESR), free radical trapping experiments, high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), T.E.S.T toxicological estimation, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated that the in-situ anchoring of Bi2Sn2O7 at Cu2O facilitated the development of a non-uniform electric field. Furthermore, the complex actual water body still maintained an outstanding removal effect, thereby confirming the practicality of using Bi-Cu2 to treat tetracycline in real water bodies under sun radiation.