Efficient photocatalytic activity of bismuth oxyhalides with preferentially oriented (210) facets under visible light

摘要

The pure Bismuth Oxyhalides [BiOX (X=Cl, Br and I)] nano-crystals can be used as efficient photo-catalysts for the purpose of water purification under visible light irradiations. BiOX materials can efficiently degrade different types of toxic chemicals emitted from textile, pharmaceutical and pesticide industries thereby acting as effective materials for waste water remediation. In this work, BiOX materials have been synthesized using Bi_2O_3 as the precursor following a facile chemical route. The as-synthesized samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis Diffused Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Photoluminescence Spectroscopy (PL). Finally, the BiOX samples have been utilized for degradation of harmful, xanthene, textile dye like Rhodamine B (RhB). It has been observed that the synthesized materials were capable to degrade RhB dye within just 120 min under visible light irradiation exhibiting excellent photocatalytic activity which in turn helped to establish BiOX materials as a potential photo-catalyst to combat environmental water pollution.