OICC Press Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2193-8865 13 5 (October 2023) 2022 03 03 Controllable construction of a three-dimensional spherical LaFeO3/Bi2O3 heterojunction with enhanced photocatalytic ability for tetracycline degradation 10.1007/s40097-022-00477-2 EN Zi-ang Jia Key Lab of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, CN Qing-rui Zeng School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, CN Yuan-bo Sun Key Lab of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, CN Wei Feng Key Lab of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, CN Journal Article 2022 03 03 Abstract A novel three-dimensional spherical LaFaO 3 /Bi 2 O 3 heterojunction was successfully constructed through a two-step synthesis, which included a biological template method and hydrothermal synthesis. Because of the addition of different quantities of LaFaO 3 , the as-prepared LaFaO 3 /Bi 2 O 3 composite showed different morphological structures, excitation energies, charge separation efficiencies, and degrees of photocatalytic performance. With the change in the amount of LaFaO 3 added, the morphology of the LaFaO 3 /Bi 2 O 3 complex changed from irregular clusters to a regular spherical structure. When the molar doping ratio of LaFaO 3 /Bi 2 O 3 was 1:2, it exhibited a near-perfect 3D spherical structure with external pyknotic grooves. The results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicated that the 1:2 LaFeO 3 /Bi 2 O 3 catalyst exhibited the optimal charge separation efficiency. The bandgap of the prepared LaFaO3/Bi 2 O 3 composite changed from 1.95 eV (1:2) to 2.32 eV (3:4), which were lower than that of the Bi 2 O 3 template (2.81 eV). The 3D-spherical LaFaO 3 /Bi 2 O 3 catalyst almost completely removed 50 mg L −1 of tetracycline within 90 min. Electron spin resonance and radical trapping experiments revealed that radicals were the main oxidants in the photocatalytic reaction. The construction of a 3D floral spherically structured semiconductor composite photocatalyst improved the further degradation of tetracycline. Graphical abstract