Ogbeifun, OsemeikhianTichapondwa, Shepherd MasimbaChirwa, Evans M.N.2025-11-042025-11-042025-10Ogbeifun, O, Tichapondwa, S.M. & Chirwa, E.M.N. 2025, 'Degradation of rhodamine B Dye on BiOIO3/Bi12O17Cl2 heterostructure photocatalyst under visible light activation', South African Journal of Chemical Engineering, vol. 54, pp. 63-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajce.2025.07.005..1026-918510.1016/j.sajce.2025.07.005http://hdl.handle.net/2263/105088Dye pollution resulting from industrial waste poses a substantial threat to both human health and the environment. Heterostructure composites of BiOIO3 and Bi12O17Cl2 with varying mass ratios (BiOIO3/Bi12O17Cl2-y:x) were fabricated to enhance the degradation abilities of the individual material towards dye contaminants. The rapid recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs in Bi12O17Cl2 and the limited photon utilisation of the visible light wavelengths by BiOIO3 were addressed in the heterojunction. The heterojunction formed between the material provides for spatial charge separation and boost of redox power of photogenerated electrons and holes. The degradation rate constant of Rhodamine B dye on BiOIO3/Bi12O17Cl2–1:1, the best performing material, under visible light in 6 h was 0.4 h−1, which is 2.7 and 4.3 times the rate constants for Bi12O17Cl2 (0.149 h−1) and BiOIO3 (0.093 h−1), respectively. The results demonstrate the contribution of heterostructure formation in improving the photocatalytic degradation process. The main species in the degradation step are hydroxyl (•OH) and superioxide (•O2–) radicals. BiOIO3/Bi12O17Cl2–1:1 has good photocatalytic stability, as 96 % efficiency retention is reported after four cycles. Thus, BiOIO3/Bi12O17Cl2–1:1 is a promising material for the degradation of dyes.en© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.PhotocatalysisHeterostructureBiOIO3Bi12O17Cl2Redox potentialRecombinationInternal electric fieldArticle