biostudies-literatureZhu BNatural Science Foundation of Zhejiang ProvinceNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaZhejiang Province Public Welfare Technology Application Research Project1594-1605https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9827591biostudies-literatureUnknown13(3)To improve the efficiency of photocatalytic oxidative degradation of antibiotic pollutants, it is essential to develop an efficient and stable photocatalyst. In this study, a polymer-assisted facile synthesis strategy is proposed for the polymorph-controlled α-Bi₂O₃/Bi₂O₂CO₃ heterojunction retained at elevated calcination temperatures. The p-n heterojunction can effectively separate and migrate electron-hole pairs, which improves visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation from tetracycline (TC). The BO-400@PAN-140 photocatalyst achieves the highest pollutant removal efficiency of 98.21% for photocatalytic tetracycline degradation in 1 h (<i>λ</i> > 420 nm), and the degradation efficiency was maintained above 95% after 5 cycles. ThRSC advancesVisible-light driven p-n heterojunction formed between α-Bi₂O₃ and Bi₂O₂CO₃ for efficient photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline.PMC9827591LGF22D060003LGF20D06000122005269LQ21B030007Chen QZhai CHuang JWang BChen LTao HSong DZhu BDong QKlemes JJfalseVisible-light driven p-n heterojunction formed between α-Bi₂O₃ and Bi₂O₂CO₃ for efficient photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline.To improve the efficiency of photocatalytic oxidative degradation of antibiotic pollutants, it is essential to develop an efficient and stable photocatalyst. In this study, a polymer-assisted facile synthesis strategy is proposed for the polymorph-controlled α-Bi₂O₃/Bi₂O₂CO₃ heterojunction retained at elevated calcination temperatures. The p-n heterojunction can effectively separate and migrate electron-hole pairs, which improves visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation from tetracycline (TC). The BO-400@PAN-140 photocatalyst achieves the highest pollutant removal efficiency of 98.21% for photocatalytic tetracycline degradation in 1 h (<i>λ</i> > 420 nm), and the degradation efficiency was maintained above 95% after 5 cycles. Th2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Jan2026-03-27T16:47:06.797Z2025-04-04T14:27:31.795ZS-EPMC98275913668807210.1039/d2ra08162h