Facile preparation of a multicomponent catalytic system Bi2O3/Bi2S3/CDs with an exceptional catalytic activity in the photocatalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol

Industrial and agricultural wastewater containing 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) has serious toxic effects on human beings and environments. We reported a novel visible-light-driven nanocomposite with carbon dots (CDs) doped on the surface of Bi2O3/Bi2S3 (abbreviated as BB), that is BB/CDs, acted as an efficient photocatalyst for 4-NP reduction. The structure, morphology and optical properties of the BB/CDs composite were characterized and investigated in detail. The reduction from 4-NP to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) could be completed within only 2 min over the optimized composite in the presence of NaBH4, while for saturated 4-NP solution, the completed reduction is within 1 h. This simple catalytic system might provide a new method for both industrial application and environmental remediation.