One pot synthesis of CdS/BiOBr/Bi2O2CO3: A novel ternary double Z-scheme heterostructure photocatalyst for efficient degradation of atrazine.

• A simple one pot hydrothermal method is designed for synthesis of CdS/BiOBr/Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 heterostructure photocatalyst. • A double z-scheme electron transfer process leads to enhanced separation and migration of charge carriers. • Improved optical and photoelectrochemical properties and prolonged life time due to high interfacial contact. • The ternary heterostructre show excellent photocatalytic activity for mineralization of atrazine herbicide. • MTT assay study confirms the non-cytotoxic nature of the treated aqueous solution of atrazine. In this study, a simple one-step hydrothermal method was developed for morphology controlled synthesis of CdS/BiOBr/Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 ternary heterostructure materials. The ternary system contained well dispersed CdS nanoparticles (50–80 nm) anchored over ultrathin BiOBr and Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 nanoplates with high interfacial contact. A significant enhancement in visible light absorption, prolonged life time decay and improved charge carrier separation and migration property accounted for the excellent photocatalytic activity towards atrazine herbicide degradation (>95% in 30 min). A double Z-scheme electron transfer mechanism was proposed to explain the dramatic increase in photocatalytic activity which was deduced from photoelectrochemical measurements, scavenger and radical (OH and O 2 ‾) trapping experiments. MTT assay study revealed that the photo-catalytically treated atrazine solution showed significant reduction in cytotoxicity. This study provides an effective strategy for facile synthesis of bismuth based ternary heterostructures with potential applications in the field of environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]