Bi₂MoO₆-based photocatalysts: engineering strategies for environmental and energy applications

The rapid pace of economic and industrial development has led to increasingly severe environmental pollution and energy scarcity, emerging as pressing global concerns. Photocatalysis represents a promising strategy for addressing these dual challenges by converting solar energy into chemical energy or degrading pollutants. Among various photocatalysts, bismuth molybdate (Bi₂MoO₆), a representative Aurivillius-phase material, has garnered considerable attention owing to its visible-light-responsive bandgap, low toxicity, cost-effectiveness, and outstanding chemical stability. However, its practical application is significantly constrained by inherent drawbacks, including limited light absorption range and rapid recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. This review presents a comprehensive overview of recent advances in Bi₂MoO₆-based photocatalysts, systematically examining synthesis methods, modification strategies (such as heterojunction construction, defect engineering, and elemental doping), and their diverse applications in both environmental remediation and energy conversion. Specifically, the environmental applications encompass the degradation of organic pollutants (e.g., dyes and antibiotics), antibacterial activity, and performance in complex water matrices. In the energy sector, applications include photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, CO₂ reduction, and nitrogen fixation. Finally, the current challenges and future research directions for enhancing the photocatalytic performance of Bi₂MoO₆ are discussed, with the aim of guiding further investigation and facilitating its practical implementation in sustainable environmental and energy technologies.