Abstract
Semiconductor-based photocatalysis has been identified as an encouraging approach for solving the two main challenging problems, viz., remedying our polluted environment and the generation of sustainable chemical energy. Stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric bismuth oxyhalides (BiOX and BixOyXz where X = Cl, Br, and I) are a relatively new class of semiconductors that have attracted considerable interest for photocatalysis applications due to attributes, viz., high stability, suitable band structure, modifiable energy bandgap and two-dimensional layered structure capable of generating an internal electric field. Recently, the construction of heterojunction photocatalysts, especially 2D/2D systems, has convincingly drawn momentous attention practicably owing to the productive influence of having two dissimilar layered semiconductors in face-to-face contact with each other. This review has systematically summarized the recent progress on the 2D/2D heterojunction constructed between BiOX/BixOyXz with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). The band structure of individual components, various fabrication methods, different strategies developed for improving the photocatalytic performance and their applications in the degradation of various organic contaminants, hydrogen (H2) evolution, carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction, nitrogen (N2) fixation and the organic synthesis of clean chemicals are summarized. The perspectives and plausible opportunities for developing high performance BiOX/BixOyXz-g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalysts are also discussed.
Highlights
Excessive demand for pharmaceutical, personal care, agricultural and industrial products driven by the continued growth of the world population has inevitably escalated the discharge of organic contaminants into the environment [1]
A BiOI-BiOCl/g-C3N4 ternary composite was synthesized by a template-free precipitation method using NH3 solution as the precipitating agent, wherein thin layers of g-C3N4 acted as a bed for anchoring BiOI and BiOCl nanosheets for the formation of an efficient heterojunction semiconductor [91]
A BiOBr/g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalyst synthesized through a two-step combustion-coprecipitation method was reported to exhibit excellent photooxidation of benzylamine to N-benzylidenebenzylamine with a conversion rate of 94% and a yield of 82% within 4 h of visible light irradiation obtained from white LED under atmospheric air [217]
Summary
Excessive demand for pharmaceutical, personal care, agricultural and industrial products driven by the continued growth of the world population has inevitably escalated the discharge of organic contaminants into the environment [1]. It was revealed that the photogenerated free radicals emanating from semiconductors under UV/Visible light excitation could cleavage the chemical bonds in the molecular organic contaminants adsorbed on their surfaces [8]. In this regard, heterogeneous semiconductor photocatalysis—categorized as another form of advanced oxidation process—has received an overwhelming research interest as a “one-step solution” for addressing the energy and environmental issues, viz., the generation of hydrogen gas through light-water splitting reaction, the reduction of CO2 into hydrocarbons and to completely break down organic contaminants through redox reactions involving the radical species [9]. EElleeccttrroonniicc BBaanndd SSttrruuccttuurree ooff BBiiOOXX,, BBiixxOOyyXXzzaannddgg-C-C3N3N4 4 TThhee bbaanndd ssttrruuccttuurreeooffththeemmataetreirailailsisthtehcerucrcuiacliaplapraamraemteertethr atthdaticdtaictetasttehsetlhigehltigahbtasobrsportipotniocnacpaapcaitcyit,yc,hcahragregecacrarrireirerddyynnaammiciscsaannddggeenneerraattioionnooffffrreeee rraaddiiccaallss. An overview of the various synthetic methods and the corresponding growth mechanism is presented in detail
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