Room-temperature synthesized In-BiOBr1-xIx nanosheets with visible-light-driven superior photocatalytic activity: Degradation of dye/non-dye organic pollutants for environmental remediation

Abstract

Photocatalysis is extensively investigated as a green, efficient and promising technique for environmental remediation. In this study, a series of template free In-doped BiOBrxI1-x photocatalysts have been successfully prepared at room temperature and characterized by various methods. Complete degradation of negatively charged methyl Orange, positively charged Rhodamine B and Methylene Blue organic dyes, and neutral and colorless non-dye organic compound of furfural was attained. The flat band potential offered the possibility of reduction of dissolved O2 to O2.− in the conduction band while the trapping experiment identified the (O2.−)is the main radical species followed by h+ for the photodegradation. In-BiOBrI-0.4 had an excellent photocatalytic degradation activity which could be due to the synergetic effect between metal ion doping and solid solution formation. It further promotes visible light-harvesting ability and photoinduced charge carrier separation efficiency. The order of the reaction rate was determined and the mechanism was proposed. This work can lay a base for the design of effective photocatalyst toward environmental remediation.