AgI Nanoparticles Evenly Dispersed on 2D Porous Bi5 O7 I Sheets: Simple Synthesis and Excellent Photocatalytic Performance

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of Bi12O17Cl2 nano-sheets via surface modification of carbon nanotubes as electron carriers

A novel carbon nanotubes modified Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂ composite (CNTs/Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂) was prepared via hydrothermal method. The chemical structures, morphologies, optical properties of the synthesized samples were revealed by XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM, BET and UV-vis DRS measurements. The photocatalytic activity of the CNTs/Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂ composite was evaluated with degradation reaction of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light. CNTs/Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂ exhibited improved photocatalytic activity in comparison with pure Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂, and kept favorable stability and recyclability in the reaction. The relatively high photocatalytic activity of CNTs/Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂ resulted from the enhanced separation efficiency of photo-induced charges, which were revealed by the photoluminescence spectra and transient photocurrent measurements. CNTs loaded at the surface of Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂ sheets acted as electron carriers to efficiently transfer the photoinduced electrons, namely to promote the separation of photoinduced electrons and holes, thus improving the photocatalytic activity of the composite materials. At last, a possible photocatalytic reaction mechanism over the CNTs/Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂ composite was proposed based on the results of trapping experiment, ESR measurements and the band energy analysis.

Synthesis of one-dimensional Bi2O3–Bi5O7I heterojunctions with high interface quality

One-dimensional Bi₂O₃–Bi₅O₇I heterostructures with high interface quality were first synthesized by calcining of BiOI–Bi(OHC₂O₄)·2H₂O precursors. And the obtained Bi₂O₃–Bi₅O₇I heterostructures exhibit outstanding photocatalytic activity for degrading methyl orange and phenol with high concentration.

Highly improved visible-light-induced photocatalytic performance over BiOI/Ag2CO3 heterojunctions

The heterojunctions between BiOI and Ag₂CO₃ obviously improved visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity compared with separate BiOI and Ag₂CO₃ particles.

Construction of 2D/2D layered g-C3N4/Bi12O17Cl2 hybrid material with matched energy band structure and its improved photocatalytic performance

A series of visible-light-induced 2D/2D layered g-C₃N₄/Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂ composite photocatalysts were successfully synthesized by a one step chemical precipitation method with g-C₃N₄, BiCl₃ and NaOH as the precursors at room temperature and characterized through XRD, FTIR, XPS, TEM, BET and UV-vis DRS measurements. The results of XRD, FTIR and XPS indicated that g-C₃N₄ has been introduced in the Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂ system. The TEM image demonstrated that there was strong surface-to-surface contact between 2D g-C₃N₄ layers and Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂ nanosheets, which contributed to a fast transfer of the interfacial electrons, leading to a high separation rate of photoinduced charge carriers in the g-C₃N₄/Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂ system. Rhodamine B was considered as the model pollutant to investigate the photocatalytic activity of the resultant samples. The g-C₃N₄/Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂ composite showed a clearly improved photocatalytic degradation capacity compared to bare g-C₃N₄ and Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂, which was ascribed to the interfacial contact between the 2D g-C₃N₄ layers and Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂ sheet with a matched energy band structure, promoting the photoinduced charges' efficient separation. Finally, combined with the results of the trapping experiment, ESR measurements and the band energy analysis, a reasonable photocatalytic mechanism over the 2D/2D layered g-C₃N₄/Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂ composite was proposed.

Surface-to-surface contact g-C₃N₄/Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂ hybrid material with a matched energy band structure could efficiently transfer photoinduced charges, improving the photocatalytic activity.