Issue 15, 2014

Bismuth oxyhalide nanomaterials: layered structures meet photocatalysis

Abstract

In recent years, layered bismuth oxyhalide nanomaterials have received more and more interest as promising photocatalysts because their unique layered structures endow them with fascinating physicochemical properties; thus, they have great potential photocatalytic applications for environment remediation and energy harvesting. In this article, we explore the synthesis strategies and growth mechanisms of layered bismuth oxyhalide nanomaterials, and propose design principles of tailoring a layered configuration to control the nanoarchitectures for high efficient photocatalysis. Subsequently, we focus on their layered structure dependent properties, including pH-related crystal facet exposure and phase transformation, facet-dependent photoactivity and molecular oxygen activation pathways, so as to clarify the origin of the layered structure dependent photoreactivity. Furthermore, we summarize various strategies for modulating the composition and arrangement of layered structures to enhance the photoactivity of nanostructured bismuth oxyhalides via internal electric field tuning, dehalogenation effect, surface functionalization, doping, plasmon modification, and heterojunction construction, which may offer efficient guidance for the design and construction of high-performance bismuth oxyhalide-based photocatalysis systems. Finally, we highlight some crucial issues in engineering the layered-structure mediated properties of bismuth oxyhalide photocatalysts and provide tentative suggestions for future research on increasing their photocatalytic performance.

Graphical abstract: Bismuth oxyhalide nanomaterials: layered structures meet photocatalysis

Article information

Article type
Feature Article
Submitted
11 May 2014
Accepted
03 Jun 2014
First published
05 Jun 2014

Nanoscale, 2014,6, 8473-8488

Author version available

Bismuth oxyhalide nanomaterials: layered structures meet photocatalysis

J. Li, Y. Yu and L. Zhang, Nanoscale, 2014, 6, 8473 DOI: 10.1039/C4NR02553A

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