CuS as bifunctional catalyst for enhancing photocatalytic degradation efficiency of Bi4Ti3O12

The photocatalytic activity of Bi 4 Ti 3 O 12 is limited by the lack of active sites and rapid carrier recombination. In this work, the problems mentioned above are effectively solved by using a dual functional CuS load on the surface of Bi 4 Ti 3 O 12 . The CuS can be used as electron trapping sites to play a role as a cocatalyst, and form p-n junction with the Bi 4 Ti 3 O 12 under irradiation through the properties of p-type semiconductor. The dual functionality of CuS effectively promotes carrier separation and enhances the photocatalytic degradation activity. The photocatalytic rate of Bi 4 Ti 3 O 12 with optimal loading amount of CuS is ∼1.8 and ∼2.7 times as high as that of the Bi 4 Ti 3 O 12 and the CuS, respectively. The photocatalytic mechanism of the Bi 4 Ti 3 O 12 –CuS system is investigated in detail.