Design of BiOCl/WO3@Polyaniline Organic–Inorganic Nanocomposite Photocatalyst for the Efficient Decontamination of 2-Chlorophenol from Wastewater

Advanced photocatalysts that can utilize solar energy for water purification applications are always needed. The present article reports a facile fabrication of tungsten oxide (WO3)/bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) immobilized on polyaniline (PAn) (BiOCl/WO3@PAn) heterojunction nanocomposite photocatalyst. designed nanocatalyst was tested 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) decontamination from the aquatic system. Synthesized WO3, BiOCl, and BiOCl/WO3@PAn nanocomposites were distinguished via UV-DSR, photoluminescence, SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS analysis. combination PAn with WO3 BiOCl showed synergistic impact photocatalytic efficiency nanocomposite. synthesized higher visible light absorption behavior bandgap reduction than BiOCl. obtained data shows 2-CP photocatalysis by is controlled degradation time, pH, pollutant amount in solution. highest (99.7%) recorded at pH 5 25 mg/L concentration within 240 min. mechanism active radical scavenging study discovered •O2− •OH, responsible mineralization onto enhanced properties over pristine catalysts. reusability evaluated. It found photocatalyst could be recycled up to four cycles without significantly losing properties. fabricated catalyst presented exceptional catalytic recycling properties, indicating an effective method hazardous organic contaminants under irradiation green technology wastewater purification.