A Visible-Light-Active TiO2/Bi2O3/g-C3N4 Heterojunction: Synthesis, Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B, and Antibacterial Activity

Ternary heterojunction photocatalysts enhance the separation and transport of photogenerated charge carriers, thereby boosting their redox activity for use in environmental and sustainable energy applications. This study focuses on the synthesis of a TiO2/Bi2O3/g-C3N4 heterojunction composite via a ceramic method with TiO2 loadings of 80%, 85%, and 90% (denoted 80T-BC, 85T-BC, and 90T-BC, respectively) to investigate structure–property–performance relationships in photocatalytic dye degradation. The structural, optical, and morphological properties of the synthesised materials were characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and diffuse reflectance UV–Vis spectroscopy (DRS). The photocatalytic performance was evaluated by measuring the degradation of Rhodamine B under visible light irradiation. Under optimised conditions (pH 6, initial RhB concentration of 5 mg/L, and a reaction time of 120 min), a degradation rate of 99% was achieved. Furthermore, the semiconductor demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. This study presents a promising strategy for modifying TiO2-based semiconductors by incorporating different metal oxides. The formation of the resulting heterojunction significantly enhances photocatalytic efficiency, demonstrating strong potential for practical environmental remediation.