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The construction of Z-scheme heterostructures using matching band semiconductors is an effective strategy for producing highly efficient photocatalysts. In this study, MgIn2S4(MIS) was grown in situ on In2O3microrods created with an In-based MOF material (In-MIL-68) as a template to successfully establish a unique MIS-In2O3heterojunction with a well-matched Z-scheme interface charge transfer channel. Tetracycline (TC) as a typical antibiotic was chosen as the target pollutant to evaluate the photocatalytic activity. After 120 min of visible light irradiation, the MIS-In2O3-(10:1) material had the greatest photocatalytic degradation activity of tetracycline with 96.55%, which was 2.39 and 4.26 times that of MIS and In2O3, respectively. The improved photocatalytic activity is attributed to the in situ growth of MIS on In2O3, forming a Z-scheme heterojunction at the interface, which not only increases the specific surface area, exposes the abundant active site, and improves light utilization but also facilitates the migration and separation of photogenic carriers. The photocatalytic degradation products of TC were detected by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and a preliminary degradation pathway was proposed. Radical capture experiments and ESR analysis confirmed that the main active species were holes (h+), superoxide radicals (•O2–), and superoxide and hydroxyl radicals (•OH). Finally, combined with band position analysis, this study proposes a direct Z-scheme heterojunction mechanism to improve the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline in MIS under visible light.

Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) is a promising photocatalyst for water pollution degradation and photocatalytic oxygen evolution. In this work, we prepared 2D/2D BiVO4–Bi4V2O10heterostructure with tight interfacial contact via a facile one-step hydrothermal process. The crystal structure and morphology of the samples could be easily regulated by changing the pH values of the solution. The BiVO4–Bi4V2O10heterostructure exhibited an enhanced photodegradation rate of Cr(VI) and oxygen evolution that of bare BiVO4, indicating that the synergistic effect and the interfacial fusions between BiVO4and Bi4V2O10can effectively promote the migration and separation rate of photoexcited charge carriers.