A dye-sensitized visible light photocatalyst-Bi24O31Cl10

The p-block semiconductors are regarded as a new family of visible-light photocatalysts because of their dispersive and anisotropic band structures as well as high chemical stability. The bismuth oxide halides belong to this family and have band structures and dispersion relations that can be engineered by modulating the stoichiometry of the halogen elements. Herein, we have developed a new visible-light photocatalyst Bi 24 O 31 Cl 10 by band engineering, which shows high dye-sensitized photocatalytic activity. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the p-block elements determine the nature of the dispersive electronic structures and narrow band gap in Bi 24 O 31 Cl 10. Bi 24 O 31 Cl 10 exhibits excellent visible-light photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of Rhodamine B, which is promoted by dye sensitization due to compatible energy levels and high electronic mobility. In addition, Bi 24 O 31 Cl 10 is also a suitable photoanode material for dye-sensitized solar cells and shows power conversion efficiency of 1.5%

Bismuth oxybromide with reasonable photocatalytic reduction activity under visible light

The original bismuth-based oxyhalide, known as the Sillén family, is an important photocatalyst due to its high photocatalytic oxidation activity. Here, we report a bismuth-based photocatalyst, Bi24O 31Br10, with reasonable reduction activity. The photoreduction capability of Bi24O31Br10 in H2 evolution from water reduction is 133.9 μmol after 40 h under visible light irradiation. Bi24O31Br10 presents the highest activity among Bi2O3, BiOBr, and Bi 24O31Br10 in photocatalytic reduction of the Cr (VI) test, and Cr (VI) ions are totally removed in 40 min. The Mott-Schottky test shows the bottom of the conduction band fits the electric potential requirements for splitting water to H2. First-principles calculations indicate the conduction band of Bi24O31Br10 mainly consists of hybridized Bi 6p and Br 4s orbitals, which may contribute to the uplifting of the conduction band

Bismuth Oxybromide with Reasonable Photocatalytic Reduction Activity under Visible Light

The original bismuth-based oxyhalide, known as the Sillén family, is an important photocatalyst due to its high photocatalytic oxidation activity. Here, we report a bismuth-based photocatalyst, Bi₂₄O₃₁Br₁₀, with reasonable reduction activity. The photoreduction capability of Bi₂₄O₃₁Br₁₀ in H₂ evolution from water reduction is 133.9 μmol after 40 h under visible light irradiation. Bi₂₄O₃₁Br₁₀ presents the highest activity among Bi₂O₃, BiOBr, and Bi₂₄O₃₁Br₁₀ in photocatalytic reduction of the Cr (VI) test, and Cr (VI) ions are totally removed in 40 min. The Mott–Schottky test shows the bottom of the conduction band fits the electric potential requirements for splitting water to H₂. First-principles calculations indicate the conduction band of Bi₂₄O₃₁Br₁₀ mainly consists of hybridized Bi 6p and Br 4s orbitals, which may contribute to the uplifting of the conduction band