Indirect Substitution Constructing Halogen-Vacancy BiOCl_1-I Solid Solution with a Suitable Surface Structure for...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Science
• Chemistry

Background:

• Photocatalysis shows promise for environmental remediation but struggles with persistent pollutants.
• Bismuth oxyhalides (BiOX) are effective photocatalysts, but their performance needs optimization.
• Synthesizing BiOCl$_{1-x}$I$_x$ solid solutions with controlled structures is key for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a strategy for synthesizing BiOCl$_{1-x}$I$_x$ solid solutions with in situ introduced halogen vacancies.
• To investigate the effect of halogen vacancies on the band structure and surface properties of BiOCl$_{1-x}$I$_x$.
• To evaluate the enhanced photocatalytic performance for environmental remediation.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of BiOCl$_{1-x}$I$_x$ solid solutions with controlled halogen vacancies using glycerol.
• Characterization of the material's band structure and surface active sites.
• Testing photocatalytic activity for Cr(VI) reduction and phenol oxidation.

Main Results:

• Successfully introduced halogen vacancies into BiOCl$_{1-x}$I$_x$ via chemical bonding with glycerol.
• Widened the band gap and formed active sites centered at halogen vacancies.
• Achieved enhanced photocatalytic performance in reducing Cr(VI) and oxidizing phenol.

Conclusions:

• Controlling halogen vacancy formation is a viable strategy for designing efficient photocatalysts.
• The developed halogen-vacancy BiOCl$_{1-x}$I$_x$ shows significant potential for environmental remediation.
• This approach offers new insights into optimizing photocatalyst design for pollutant degradation.