One-step ultrasonic production of novel worm-like Bi₇(PO₄)O₉ photocatalyst for efficient degradation of ciprofloxacin antibiotic under simulated solar light

For the first time, novel worm-like Bi₇(PO₄)O₉ photocatalysts have been fabricated via a versatile sonochemical route using new capping agent. The impacts of ultrasonic power, time of sonication, and capping agent on the morphology of Bi₇(PO₄)O₉ products were also studied. In addition, the photocatalytic performance of the Bi₇(PO₄)O₉ nanostructures was studied by the degradation of ciprofloxacin as antibiotic contaminant under simulated solar light illumination. The results indicated that the hierarchical Bi₇(PO₄)O₉ photocatalyst with energy gap of 2.92 eV has superior photodegradation efficiency about 91% after 2 h of simulated solar light irradiation, even after five recycles. Moreover, the effects of antibiotic concentration, photocatalyst dosage, and morphology of the products on the photocatalytic activity were investigated. The dependable photodegradation mechanism was expressed based on the active oxidative species trapping, which disclosed the photogenerated superoxide (•O₂−) and hydroxyl (•OH) radicals were the chief species in the degradation of ciprofloxacin by Bi₇(PO₄)O₉ nanostructures.