Advancing water treatment: The emerging role of NIR-driven BiO2−x catalysts

Abstract

The strategic harnessing of near-infrared (NIR) light for water treatment offers a promising solution to environmental pollution. The plasmonic BiO2−x exhibits exceptional potential in harnessing near-infrared (NIR) light because of its distinct localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect, thereby positioning it as a rising-star NIR-light-driven catalyst. More importantly, BiO2−x demonstrates a spectrum of exceptional advantages, including high carrier mobility, cost-effectiveness, low toxicity, robust stability, and ease of preparation, these attributes are particularly pertinent in advancing water treatment. This review first introduces the atomic structure of BiO2−x and analyzes the origination of the LSPR effect, which is caused by electron vibration with incident light caused by surface oxygen defects. In addition, this review presents, for the first time, a comprehensive summary of various synthetic methods for BiO2−x. It then delves into modifications, such as defect engineering, morphology control, heteroatom doping, and heterojunction construction, aimed at boosting photoresponse, expediting charge transfer, and promoting surface catalytic reaction. Furthermore, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the application of NIR light-driven BiO2−x in water treatment. Besides, the discourse extends to an exploration of the prospects and the pivotal challenges confronting the application of BiO2−x-based materials. This in-depth analysis is poised to inspire further exploration and innovation in leveraging the capabilities of BiO2−x-based nanomaterials for water treatment.