Cooperation of oxygen vacancies and 2D ultrathin structure promoting CO2 photoreduction performance of Bi4Ti3O12

Facile assembled N, S-codoped corn straw biochar loaded Bi2WO6 with the enhanced electron-rich feature for the efficient photocatalytic removal of ciprofloxacin and Cr(VI)

To the best of our knowledge, in few studies, biochar (BC)-based materials have been used as the photocatalyst for water purification, and their application is limited to a great extent due to catalyst agglomeration and inefficient electron migration. In this study, a novel Bi₂WO₆ loaded N, S co-doping corn straw biochar (Bi₂WO₆/NSBC) was successfully synthesized with a simple solvothermal method for the removal of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and Cr(VI) under visible light irradiation. The Bi₂WO₆/NSBC was featured with efficient and rapid catalytic removal toward CIP (5 mg/L) and Cr(VI) (10 mg/L), with efficiencies of ∼90.33% and ∼99.86% within 75 min, respectively. More attractively, this composite can be applied in a wide pH range (3.0-9.0) and with weak effects by coexisting ions (Cl^-, CO₃^2-, SO₄^2-, and Ca²⁺). The facile synthesized porous graphitized structure demonstrates an outstanding performance of superior conductivity and promoted photoelectron transport. Meanwhile, it is found that N, S co-doping of the BC induces highly interconnected fibrous structures, high catalytic property, and favorable specific surface areas, which is considered to avoid agglomeration of Bi₂WO_6. The increased photocatalytic activity results from the synergistic effects of Bi₂WO₆ and NSBC by the optimized band gap and enhanced visible light response, due to higher migration and utilization efficiency of photoinduced carriers in photocatalytic reactions. In this approach, a cheap catalyst is provided, and at the same time, a synergistic effect of N, S co-doping is formed to rapidly remove contaminants in wastewater treatment.

Facet-selective charge separation in two-dimensional bismuth-based photocatalysts

In this review, we summarize recent advances in the facet design of bismuth-based single-crystal plates based on facet-dependent charge separation for photocatalytic reactions, and the manipulation of the spatial charge separation is highlighted.

Regulating morphological and electronic structures of polymeric carbon nitrides by successive copolymerization and stream reforming for photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Greatly reinforced photocatalytic CO₂ reduction is realized with carbon nitride polymers tailored via a coupled copolymerization and stream reforming strategy.

Synthesis of a BiPO4/Bi4O5I2 heterostructure for efficient degradation of oil field pollutants

In this research, composite photocatalysts were found to have a superior photocatalytic performance.

Hydrothermal synthesis of Bi@Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity

The (Bi₂O₂)²⁺ slabs undergo repeated exfoliation and recrystallization process, leaving the unstable Bi ions deposited on the Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ nanosheets.

Photocatalytic Oxygen Evolution from Water Splitting

Photocatalytic water splitting has attracted a lot of attention in recent years, and O2 evolution is the decisive step owing to the complex four-electrons reaction process. Though many studies have been conducted, it is necessary to systematically summarize and introduce the research on photocatalytic O2 evolution, and thus a systematic review is needed. First, the corresponding principles about O2 evolution and some urgently encountered issues based on the fundamentals of photocatalytic water splitting are introduced. Then, several types of classical water oxidation photocatalysts, including TiO2, BiVO4, WO3, α-Fe2O3, and some newly developed ones, such as Sillén-Aurivillius perovskites, porphyrins, metal-organic frameworks, etc., are highlighted in detail, in terms of their crystal structures, synthetic approaches, and morphologies. Third, diverse strategies for O2 evolution activity improvement via enhancing photoabsorption and charge separation are presented, including the cocatalysts loading, heterojunction construction, doping and vacancy formation, and other strategies. Finally, the key challenges and future prospects with regard to photocatalytic O2 evolution are proposed. The purpose of this review is to provide a timely summary and guideline for the future research works for O2 evolution.