Efficient visible-light-driven photocatalyst fabricated by decorating porous LaTiO3 perovskites utilizing AgVO3 nanoparticles for boosting the oxidative desulfurization of thiophene

S-scheme AgVO 3 /LaTiO 3 heterojunction photocatalyst with varying AgVO 3 weight percentages, using a nonionic surfactant (Pluronic L-31), has been fabricated for the photocatalytic desulfurization of thiophene under visible light. According to Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) results, the AgVO 3 /LaTiO 3 nanocomposite has a distinct crystal structure with monoclinic β-AgVO 3 and cubic LaTiO 3 . The 12% AgVO 3 /LaTiO 3 nanocomposite exhibits the highest thiophene desulfurization, reaching 100% after 105 min. The rate constant of 12% AgVO 3 /LaTiO 3 nanocomposite was 0.0468 min −1 , which is 33.4 times larger than bare LaTiO 3 (0.0014 min −1 ). The synergistic heterojunctions between AgVO 3 and LaTiO 3 , enhanced light-absorption capacity, a low bandgap energy, greater charge-carrier separation, and accelerated redox in the optimized photocatalyst are all responsible for this notable improvement in photocatalytic performance. In the meantime, the AgVO 3 /LaTiO 3 nanocomposite exhibits outstanding stability and retains significant photocatalytic ability for oxidative desulfurization of thiophene after five tests. The heterojunction AgVO 3 /LaTiO 3 nanocomposite is designed to prolong light absorption into the visible zone, promote separation of charge via efficient band alignment, and provide more active sites through synergistic interactions between AgVO 3 and LaTiO 3 . The current work demonstrates that an S-scheme heterojunction can effectively prevent carrier recombination, offering guidance for the development of suitable photocatalysts for wastewater treatment.