A dye-sensitized visible light photocatalyst-Bi24O31Cl10

Elucidating Structural Disorder in Ultra-Thin Bi-Rich Bismuth Oxyhalide Photocatalysts

Advancing the field of photocatalysis requires the elucidation of structural properties that underpin the photocatalytic properties of promising materials. The focus of the present study is layered, Bi-rich bismuth oxyhalides, which are widely studied for photocatalytic applications yet poorly structurally understood, due to high levels of disorder, nano-sized domains, and the large number of structurally similar compounds. By connecting insights from multiple scattering techniques, utilizing electron-, X-ray- and neutron probes, the crystal phase of the synthesized materials is allocated as layered Bi24O31X10 (X = Cl, Br), albeit with significant deviation from the reported 3D crystalline model. The materials comprise anisotropic platelet-shaped crystalline domains, exhibiting significant in-plane ordering in two dimensions but disorder and an ultra-thin morphology in the layer stacking direction. Increased synthesis pH tailored larger, more ordered crystalline domains, leading to longer excited state lifetimes determined via femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy (fs-TAS). Although this likely contributes to improved photocatalytic properties, assessed via the photooxidation of benzylamine, increasing the overall surface area facilitated the most significant improvement in photocatalytic performance. This study, therefore, enabled both phase allocation and a nuanced discussion of the structure-property relationship for complicated, ultra-thin photocatalysts.

Tuneable Phase, Morphology, and Performance of Bismuth Oxyhalide Photocatalysts via Microwave-Assisted Synthesis

In this study, a facile microwave-assisted synthesis approach was used to produce a series of bismuth oxyhalide photocatalysts, with systematic changes in synthesis pH between 1 and 14 allowing control over a broad range of material properties and characteristics. Detailed structural and morphological investigations with powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Rietveld refinements, pair distribution function (PDF) analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show that thin particles of BiOCl, BiOBr, Bi24O31Cl10, and Bi24O31Br10 were selectively produced, with progressive changes in morphology, facet dominance, and phase as a function of pH. The impact of these changes on photocatalytic performance was evaluated by studying the aerobic oxidation of benzylamine to N-benzylidenebenzylamine, with all materials exhibiting photocatalytic abilities under UV or blue light. While a combination of material properties and characteristics influenced the photocatalytic performance, certain factors such as surface area, facet dominance, amorphous content, and band gap were found to have a larger impact on the photocatalytic yield. Overall, this study demonstrates the possibilities of phase, morphology, and performance of bismuth oxyhalide photocatalysts over the entire pH range, produced using a fast and facile microwave-assisted synthesis technique as an alternative to the more widely applied hydrothermal synthesis approach. Additionally, the detailed structural and morphological investigations of the materials contribute to a greater understanding of bismuth oxyhalide photocatalysts in general, while also highlighting some of the most desirable properties for improved photocatalytic performance of these materials.

Synthesis of a plasmonic AgCl and oxygen-rich Bi24O31Cl10 composite heterogeneous catalyst for enhanced degradation of tetracycline and 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid

In this study, a AgCl/Bi₂₄O₃₁Cl₁₀ composite heterostructure was constructed. Varying ratios of AgCl nanoparticles were immobilised onto the Bi₂₄O₃₁Cl₁₀ rod-like structure. The physical and optical properties of the synthesised catalysts were characterised using a range of techniques. The photocatalytic activity of the catalysts was investigated by the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) and tetracycline (TC) under visible light irradiation. The performance of the composite photocatalysts was 18 and 3.4 times better in 2-4,D and TC photodegradation when compared to Bi₂₄O₃₁Cl₁₀ alone. The improved photocatalytic performance was due to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effects of the Ag nanoparticles deposited on the surface of the Xwt%AgCl/BOC thereby improving the separation of the electron–hole pair. The effects of the initial contaminant concentration, pH, photocatalyst loading were investigated. Trapping experiments were also carried out to deduce the reactive species responsible for the degradation process and a preliminary mechanism of degradation was proposed. Successful mineralisation of 2,4-D and TC at 65% and 63% efficiency was also measured after 24 h and the potential for reusability of the as-synthesised photocatalyst was established. This work reports a promising heterogeneous photocatalyst for the removal of pollutants such as TC and 2,4-D from wastewater.

Photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline and 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid using AgCl/Bi₂₄O₃₁Cl₁₀ photocatalyst in visible light.

Recent advances in bismuth oxyhalide photocatalysts for degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater

Photocatalysis has been considered as an environmental-friendly strategy for degradation of organic pollutants to the nontoxic products of H2O and CO2. Compared to metal oxide semiconductors, BiOX (X = Cl, Br and I) photocatalysts exhibit some advantages, such as, unique layered structure, good chemical stability and superior photocatalytic activity. This review provides an overview on the controllable synthesis of BiOX-based photocatalysts and their application in photodegradation of organic pollutants. Firstly, the controllable synthesis of BiOX is introduced, including hydrothermal, solvothermal, hydrolysis, precipitation, two-phase methods, ultrasonic/microwave-assisted methods, and physical methods. Then, the doping and surface modification of BiOX are summarized, including non-metal doping, metal doping, dual doping, and the modification by introducing surface terminations or carriers. In addition, the heterojunctions of BiOX/BiOY and BiOX/Bi m O n X z are introduced. At last, the promising research trends of BiOX-based photocatalysts are put forward. The main purpose is providing practical guidelines for developing high-performance BiOX photocatalysts.

A review on bismuth oxyhalide based materials for photocatalysis

Photocatalytic solar energy transformation is the most encouraging solution to alleviate the environmental crisis and energy scarcity. Bismuth oxyhalide (BiOX) is an emerging class of materials that exhibits photocatalytic properties, such as resilient response to light, which causes enhanced energy conversion (solar energy) owing to their exceptional layered structure and attractive band structure. The present review presents a summary of results from the recent developments on the tuning and design of BiOX-based materials to improve the energy conversion. In particular, the preparation and tuning approaches that have the potential to enhance the photocatalytic behavior of BiOX and some other techniques, such as elemental doping, are addressed, which prevent the rapid recombination of charges, and formation of oxygen vacancies, facilitating an improvement in the photocatalytic reaction. Various frameworks are also presented, displaying the significance of BiOX-based nanocomposites. Finally, the main challenges and opportunities associated with the future progress of BiOX-based materials are presented. This review will provide an extended understanding and offer a preferred direction for the innovative design of BiOX-based materials for environmental and especially energy-based applications.

Nanomedicine: Photo-activated nanostructured titanium dioxide, as a promising anticancer agent

The multivariate condition of cancer disease has been approached in various ways, by the scientific community. Recent studies focus on individualized treatments, minimizing the undesirable consequences of the conventional methods, but the development of an alternative effective therapeutic scheme remains to be held. Nanomedicine could provide a solution, filling this gap, exploiting the unique properties of innovative nanostructured materials. Nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO₂) has a variety of applications of daily routine and of advanced technology. Due to its biocompatibility, it has also a great number of biomedical applications. It is now clear that photo-excited TiO₂ nanoparticles, induce generation of pairs of electrons and holes which react with water and oxygen to yield reactive oxygen species (ROS) that have been proven to damage cancer cells, triggering controlled cellular processes. The aim of this review is to provide insights into the field of nanomedicine and particularly into the wide context of TiO₂-NP-mediated anticancer effect, shedding light on the achievements of nanotechnology and proposing this nanostructured material as a promising anticancer photosensitizer.

Straightforward Synthesis of SnO2/Bi2S3/BiOCl-Bi24O31Cl10 Composites for Drastically Enhancing Rhodamine B Photocatalytic Degradation under Visible Light

The pursuit of robust photocatalysts that can completely degrade organic contaminants with high performance as well as high energy efficiency, simplicity in preparation, and low cost is an appealing topic that potentially promotes photocatalysts for being used widely. Herein, we introduce a new and efficient SnO2/Bi2S3/BiOCl-Bi24O31Cl10 (SnO2/Bi2S3-Bi25) composite photocatalyst by taking advantage of the robust, simple, and potentially scalable one-pot synthesis, including the hydrothermal process followed by thermal decomposition. Interestingly, we observed the formation of BiOCl-Bi24O31Cl10 (abbreviated as Bi25) heterojunctions derived from reactions between Bi2S3 and SnCl4·5H2O precursor solutions under the hydrothermal condition and thermal decomposition of BiOCl. This Bi25 heterojunction acts as an interface to reduce the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole (e--h+) pairs as well as to massively enhance the visible light harvesting, thereby significantly enhancing the photocatalytic degradation performance of the as-prepared composite photocatalyst. In detail, the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) activated by visible light using 15% SnO2/Bi2S3-Bi25 shows the efficiency of 80.8%, which is superior compared to that of pure Bi2S3 (29.4%) and SnO2 (0.1%). The SnO2/Bi2S3-Bi25 composite photocatalyst also presents an excellent photostability and easy recovery from dye for recycling. The trapping test revealed that the photogenerated holes play a crucial factor during the photocatalytic process, whereas superoxide radicals are also formed but not involved in the photocatalytic process. Successful fabrication of SnO2/Bi2S3-Bi25 composite photocatalysts via a straightforward method with drastically enhanced photocatalytic performance under visible light activation would be useful for practical applications.

Oxygen Vacancy Engineering of Bi24 O31 Cl10 for Boosted Photocatalytic CO2 Conversion

Unearthing an ideal model to describe the role of defect sites for boosting photocatalytic CO₂ reduction is rational and necessary, but it still remains a significant challenge. Herein, oxygen vacancies are introduced on the surface of Bi₂₄ O₃₁ Cl₁₀ photocatalyst (Bi₂₄ O₃₁ Cl₁₀ -OV) for fine-tuning the photocatalytic efficiency. The formation of oxygen vacancies leads to a new donor level near the conduction band minimum, which enables a faster charge transfer and higher carrier density. Moreover, oxygen vacancies can considerably reduce the energy for the formation of COOH* intermediates during CO₂ conversion. As a result, the activity of Bi₂₄ O₃₁ Cl₁₀ -OV for selective photoreduction of CO₂ to CO is significantly improved, with a CO generation rate of 0.9 μmol h^-1  g^-1 , which is nearly 4 times higher than that of pristine Bi₂₄ O₃₁ Cl₁₀ . This study reinforces our understanding of defect engineering in Bi-based photocatalysts and underscores the potential importance of implanting oxygen vacancies as an effective strategy for solar energy conversion.

Novel hierarchical Sn3O4/BiOX (X = Cl, Br, I) p–n heterostructures with enhanced photocatalytic activity under simulated solar light irradiation

Sn₃O₄/BiOX (X = Cl, Br, I), a series of p–n-heterojunction-based photocatalysts, were prepared by a combination of an ultrasonic-assisted precipitation–deposition method and hydrothermal method.

Ultrathin BiOCl Single-Crystalline Nanosheets with Large Reactive Facets Area and High Electron Mobility Efficiency: A Superior Candidate for High-Performance Dye Self-Photosensitization Photocatalytic Fuel Cell

Strong dye adsorption and fast electron transfer are of crucial importance to achieve high conversion efficiency of dye self-photosensitization photocatalytic fuel cells (DSPFCs). In this study, we have experimentally achieved the enhanced cell performance in ultrathin BiOCl{010} (BOC(010)-U) nanosheets and provide an idea to investigate the relationship between the physical structure and the chemical performance of semiconductor materials. Experimental phenomenon showed that the exposed areas of highly active {010} facets were remarkably enhanced with the decrease of the BiOCl thickness. The large area of {010} facets with abundant active sites and open channel characteristic were exposed to facilitate photosensitization process, and the atomically thin structure was designed to speed up electron transfer. By employing 40 mL of 5 mg/L rhodamine B as fuel, it was found that the BOC(010)-U photoanode exhibited superior photovoltaic performance and photocatalytic degradation activity than other materials in the DSPFC system, whose J_sc and V_oc were measured to be 0.00865 mA/cm² and 0.731 V, respectively. Besides, about 72% color removal efficiency and 10.77% Coulombic efficiency were obtained under visible light irradiation for 240 min. The experimental results and multiple characterizations demonstrated that the strong dye adsorption ability and efficient charge migration were responsible for the sustaining generation of photocurrent and enhancement of pollutants degradation activity.

In-situ establishment of binary composites α-Fe2O3/Bi12O17Cl2 with both photocatalytic and photo-Fenton features

A set of binary composites α-Fe₂O₃/Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂ were established through an in-situ deposition route and these samples were systematically characterized by a collection of analytical techniques. Scanning electron microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy proved the coexistence of expected two components. High resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected-area electron diffraction indicated the formation of heterojunction domains with the intimate contact of both semiconductors. The degradation behavior of as-synthesized samples was evaluated under visible-light irradiation and the enhanced outcome was observed over dye methyl orange (MO) and colorless 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), mainly attributing to favorable optical and morphological merits, and a suitable well-aligned band structure in these binary composites with a suitable phase composition as well. In addition, these composites showed an obvious photo-Fenton feature that significantly improved the catalytic degradation efficiency over 2,4-DCP when the reagent H₂O₂ was introduced, indicating the destruction efficiency was controlled by a synergtic effect from both photocatalytic and photo-Fenton degradation routes. Based upon the detection of reactive radical species, a primary synergistic mechanism was eventually speculated.

Fabrication of RuO2-Ag3PO4 heterostructure nanocomposites: Investigations of band alignment on the enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity

The RuO₂-Ag₃PO₄ heterostructured nanocomposite was successfully synthesized by facile in situ deposition of porous ruthenium oxide (RuO₂) nanoparticles on the surface of the silver phosphate (Ag₃PO₄). Under visible light irradiation, the 0.5wt.% RuO₂-Ag₃PO₄ heterostructure photocatalyst exhibits enhanced photocatalytic efficiency compared to other composites of RuO₂-Ag₃PO₄ and Ag₃PO₄. The optimized 0.5wt.% RuO₂-Ag₃PO₄ nanocomposites exhibited 1.5 times enhanced photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of methylene blue (MB) than Ag₃PO₄. Moreover, the degradation rate of 0.5wt.% RuO₂-Ag₃PO₄ nanocomposite towards the cationic dyes MB and rhodamine B (RhB) was nearly 6.6 times and 4.7 times higher than that towards the anionic dye methyl orange (MO). The formed heterojunction electric field of 310mV at the interface between RuO₂ and Ag₃PO₄ heterostructure induces downward band bending of Ag₃PO₄. Also, this electric field increases the separation efficiency of electrons-holes resulting higher degradation efficiency. The quenching effect of scavengers test confirms that holes are reactive species and the RuO₂-Ag₃PO₄ nanocomposite is highly stable, exhibited 88% of MB degradation after 4 recycles. The RuO₂-Ag₃PO₄ nanocomposites inhibit self oxidation of Ag₃PO₄ resulting improved efficiency and stability.

A strategy to minimize the energy offset in carrier injection from excited dyes to inorganic semiconductors for efficient dye-sensitized solar energy conversion

Photoinduced carrier injection from dyes to inorganic semiconductors is a crucial process in various dye-sensitized solar energy conversions such as photovoltaics and photocatalysis. It has been reported that an energy offset larger than 0.2-0.3 eV (threshold value) is required for efficient electron injection from excited dyes to metal-oxide semiconductors such as titanium dioxide (TiO2). Because the energy offset directly causes loss in the potential of injected electrons, it is a crucial issue to minimize the energy offset for efficient solar energy conversions. However, a fundamental understanding of the energy offset, especially the threshold value, has not been obtained yet. In this paper, we report the origin of the threshold value of the energy offset, solving the long-standing questions of why such a large energy offset is necessary for the electron injection and which factors govern the threshold value, and suggest a strategy to minimize the threshold value. The threshold value is determined by the sum of two reorganization energies in one-electron reduction of semiconductors and typically-used donor-acceptor (D-A) dyes. In fact, the estimated values (0.21-0.31 eV) for several D-A dyes are in good agreement with the threshold value, supporting our conclusion. In addition, our results reveal that the threshold value is possible to be reduced by enlarging the π-conjugated system of the acceptor moiety in dyes and enhancing its structural rigidity. Furthermore, we extend the analysis to hole injection from excited dyes to semiconductors. In this case, the threshold value is given by the sum of two reorganization energies in one-electron oxidation of semiconductors and D-A dyes.

Synthesis of a novel one-dimensional BiOBr–Bi4O5Br2 heterostructure with a high quality interface and its enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity

A novel rod-like BiOBr–Bi₄O₅Br₂ heterostructure with a high quality interface is synthesized by calcining a BiOBr precursor in air. The BiOBr–Bi₄O₅Br₂ heterostructure exhibits outstanding photocatalytic activity for degrading RhB dyes at high concentrations under visible/solar light irradiation.

Silver Nanoparticles-Decorated Titanium Oxynitride Nanotube Arrays for Enhanced Solar Fuel Generation

We demonstrate, for the first time, the synthesis of highly ordered titanium oxynitride nanotube arrays sensitized with Ag nanoparticles (Ag/TiON) as an attractive class of materials for visible-light-driven water splitting. The nanostructure topology of TiO2, TiON and Ag/TiON was investigated using FESEM and TEM. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses confirm the formation of the oxynitride structure. Upon their use to split water photoelectrochemically under AM 1.5 G illumination (100 mW/cm2, 0.1 M KOH), the titanium oxynitride nanotube array films showed significant increase in the photocurrent (6 mA/cm2) compared to the TiO2 nanotubes counterpart (0.15 mA/cm2). Moreover, decorating the TiON nanotubes with Ag nanoparticles (13 ± 2 nm in size) resulted in exceptionally high photocurrent reaching 14 mA/cm2 at 1.0 VSCE. This enhancement in the photocurrent is related to the synergistic effects of Ag decoration, nitrogen doping, and the unique structural properties of the fabricated nanotube arrays.

Enhancement of charge separation in ferroelectric heterogeneous photocatalyst Bi4(SiO4)3/Bi2SiO5 nanostructures

Excellent photocatalytic activity is given rise to enhanced charge separation in ferroelectric heterogeneous Bi₄(SiO₄)₃/Bi₂SiO₅ photocatalyst.

Probing the inhomogeneity and intermediates in the photosensitized degradation of rhodamine B by Ag3PO4 nanoparticles from an ensemble to a single molecule approach

This work reports the single-molecule observations of the photosensitized process and intermediates generation in the photodegradation of RhB by Ag₃PO₄ nanoparticles.

Synthesis and characterization of single-crystalline Bi2O2SiO3 nanosheets with exposed {001} facets

Bismuth oxide silicate (Bi₂O₂SiO₃) single-crystalline nanosheets with exposed {001} facets were synthesized for the first time via a facile one-step CTAB-assisted hydrothermal method in the presence of NaOH.

Effect of Experimental Parameters on the Hydrothermal Synthesis of Bi2WO6 Nanostructures

Bi2WO6 nanostructures were synthesized by a hydrothermal route, where the effect of various experimental parameters on the products was investigated. It is demonstrated that the sample morphology and size is highly dependent on the NaOH content (or pH value). At C NaOH = 0-0.0175 mol (pH range of 1-4), the prepared samples present flower-like hierarchical microspheres which are constructed from thin nanosheets via the self-assembly process. The size of the hierarchical microspheres exhibits a decreasing trend with increasing the NaOH content, from 7 μm at C NaOH = 0 mol to 1.5 μm at C NaOH = 0.0175 mol. At C NaOH = 0.03-0.0545 mol (pH: 5-9), the prepared samples exhibit irregular flake-like structures, and their size increases with the increase in NaOH content. At C NaOH = 0.055-0.05525 mol (pH: 10-11), the prepared samples are composed of uniform sphere-like particles with an average size of 85 nm. Compared to the NaOH content, the reaction temperature and time has a relatively small effect on the product morphology and size. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was evaluated by degrading rhodamine B (RhB) under irradiation of simulated sunlight. Among these samples, the samples composed of flower-like hierarchical microspheres have relatively high photocatalytic activity. In particular, the microspheres prepared at C NaOH = 0.01 mol exhibit the highest photocatalytic activity, and the degradation percentage reaches 99 % after 2 h of irradiation.

Constructing Bi24O31Cl10/BiOCl heterojunction via a simple thermal annealing route for achieving enhanced photocatalytic activity and selectivity

This work reports on the construction of a Bi₂₄O₃₁Cl₁₀/BiOCl heterojunction via a simple thermal annealing method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicated that the phase transformation from BiOCl to Bi₂₄O₃₁Cl₁₀ could be realized during the thermal annealing process. The high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) binding energy shifts, Raman spectra and Fouier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra confirmed the formation of the Bi₂₄O₃₁Cl₁₀/BiOCl heterojunction. The obtained Bi₂₄O₃₁Cl₁₀/BiOCl photocatalyst showed excellent conversion efficiency and selectivity toward photocatalytic conversion of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde under visible light irradiation. The radical scavengers and electron spin resonance (ESR) results suggested that the photogenerated holes were the dominant reactive species responsible for the photocatalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol and superoxide radicals were not involved in the photocatalytic process. The in-situ generation of Bi₂₄O₃₁Cl₁₀/BiOCl heterojunction may own superior interfacial contact than the two-step synthesized heterojunctions, which promotes the transfer of photogenerated charge carriers and is favorable for excellent photocatalytic activities.

A Chelation Strategy for In-situ Constructing Surface Oxygen Vacancy on {001} Facets Exposed BiOBr Nanosheets

Surface defect of nanomaterials is an important physical parameter which significantly influences their physical and chemical performances. In this work, high concentration of surface oxygen vancancies (SOVs) are successfully introduced on {001} facets exposed BiOBr nanosheets via a simple surface modification using polybasic carboxylic acids. The chelation interaction between carboxylic acid anions and Bi(3+) results in the weakness of Bi-O bond of BiOBr. Afterwards, under visible-light irradiation, the oxygen atoms would absorb the photo-energy and then be released from the surface of BiOBr, leaving SOVs. The electron spin resonance (ESR), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) measurements confirm the existence of SOVs. The SOVs can enhance the absorption in visible light region and improve the separation efficiency of photo-generated charges. Hence, the transformation rate of adsorbed O2 on the as-prepared BiOBr with SOVs to superoxide anion radicals (•O2(-)) and the photocatalytic activity are greatly enhanced. Based on the modification by several carboxylic acids and the photocatalytic results, we propose that carboxylic acids with natural bond orbital (NBO) electrostatic charges absolute values greater than 0.830 are effective in modifying BiOBr.

A new Bi-based visible-light-sensitive photocatalyst BiLa1.4Ca0.6O4.2: crystal structure, optical property and photocatalytic activity

A new compound of BiLa_1.4Ca_0.6O_4.2 is synthesized through solid state reaction, where the Ca substitutes, in part, the La site in a stable BiLa₂O_4.5 phase. The structure of the BiLa_1.4Ca_0.6O_4.2 crystallizes in space group R3mH with a hexagonal lattice constants of a = 3.893(1) Å, c = 9.891(1) Å. Its optical absorption edge is about 2.05 eV, which just spans the visible light region. The photocatalytic activity of the BiLa_1.4Ca_0.6O_4.2 powder to degradation of RhB under visible light irradiation is measured and improved more than 7 times by annealing in nitrogen ambient, indicating that annealing in nitrogen can effectively improve the photocatalytic activity by producing oxygen vacancy. Although the absolute photocatalytic activity obtained is low, there is great potential for enhancing the activity such as nanoscaling, doping, and coupling with other compounds.

Novel Bi₁₂O₁₅Cl₆ Photocatalyst for the Degradation of Bisphenol A under Visible-Light Irradiation

Bisphenol A (BPA), a typical endocrine-disrupting chemical, is widely present in water environments, and its efficient and cost-effective removal is greatly needed. Among various physicochemical methods for BPA degradation, visible-light-driven catalytic degradation of BPA is a promising approach because of its utilization of solar energy. Bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) is recognized as an efficient photocatalyst, but its band gap, >3.0 eV, makes it inefficient for solar energy utilization, especially for degrading nondye pollutants like BPA. Thus, preparation and application of bismuth oxychloride photocatalysts with an increased visible-light activity are essential. In this work, inspired by density functional theory calculations, a novel bismuth oxychloride photocatalyst, Bi12O15Cl6, was designed. The nanosheets were successfully synthesized using a facile solvothermal method followed by a thermal treatment route. The prepared Bi12O15Cl6 nanosheets had a favorable energy band structure and thus exhibited a superior visible-light photocatalytic activity for degrading BPA. The BPA degradation rate by the Bi12O15Cl6 was determined to be 13.6 and 8.7 times faster than those for BiOCl and TiO2 (P25), respectively. The photogenerated reactive species and degradation intermediates were identified, and the photocatalytic mechanism was elucidated. Furthermore, the as-synthesized Bi12O15Cl6 nanosheets remained stable in the photocatalytic process and could be used repeatedly, demonstrating their promising application in the degradation of diverse pollutants in water and wastewater.

UV-visible and near-infrared active NaGdF4:Yb:Er/Ag/TiO2 nanocomposite for enhanced photocatalytic applications

A near infra-red (NIR) active NaGdF₄:Yb:Er/Ag/TiO₂ nanocomposite photocatalyst was successfully synthesized by a one-pot thermal decomposition method.

Thickness-dependent photocatalytic performance of graphite oxide for degrading organic pollutants under visible light

This study reveals that photocatalytic activity of graphite oxide materials for degrading organic pollutants under visible light depends on their thickness.