Visible–near-Infrared Light-Driven Photocatalytic Characteristics of Er³⁺/Yb³⁺-Codoped BiOBr Upconverting Microparticles for Tetracycline Degradation

Abstract

To settle the unsatisfying efficiency and insufficient light harvesting ability of photocatalysts, we report on the development of Er 3+ /Yb 3+ -codoped BiOBr (BiOBr:Er 3+ /xYb 3+ ) microparticles that were synthesized by a rational high-temperature solid-state reaction method. The prepared microcrystals exhibit high visible upconversion (UC) emissions with maximum intensities at x = 0.01 when excited by a 980 nm laser. Remarkably, the corresponding UC emission process is attributed to a two-photon absorption route. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activities of assynthesized compounds were further evaluated through analyzing the visible−near-infrared light-triggered tetracycline degradation. Compared with BiOBr:Er 3+ microparticles, BiOBr:Er 3+ /xYb 3+ microparticles present superior photocatalytic properties and the optimal status is achieved when x = 0.05, in which h + , •O 2 − , and •OH active species contribute to the photocatalytic mechanism. Additionally, the designed microparticles exhibit better photocatalytic abilities than previously reported photocatalysts (i.e., TiO 2 , SnO 2 ) upon full-spectrum light irradiation. These results reveal that Yb 3+ codoping is able to not only enhance the UC emission properties of BiOBr:Er 3+ microparticles but also reinforce their photocatalytic activities. Our findings may put forward a facile strategy to regulate the photodegradation capacity of photcatalysts.