Hydrothermal Crystallization of Bismuth Oxychlorides (BiOCl) Using Different Shape Control Reagents

Abstract

Bismuth oxychloride photocatalysts were obtained using solvothermal synthesis and different additives (CTAB—cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAC—cetyltrimethylammonium chloride, PVP–polyvinylpyrrolidone, SDS–sodium dodecylsulphate, U—urea and TU—thiourea). The effect of the previously mentioned compounds was analyzed applying structural (primary crystallite size, crystal phase composition, etc.), morphological (particle geometry), optical (band gap energy) parameters, surface related properties (surface atoms’ oxidation states), and the resulted photocatalytic activity. A strong dependency was found between the surface tension of the synthesis solutions and the overall morpho-structural parameters. The main finding was that the characteristics of the semiconductors can be tuned by modifying the surface tension of the synthesis mixture. It was observed after the photocatalytic degradation, that the white semiconductor turned to grey. Furthermore, we attempted to explain the gray color of BiOCl catalysts after the photocatalytic decompositions by Raman and XPS studies.

Effective solar light-driven isothiazolinone degradation by morphology- and oxygen vacancy-modified Gd-doped BiOCl

“…S3 (ESI †), the Raman peak at 145.3 cm À1 could be assigned to the characteristic A 1g modes, and another peak at 198.3 cm À1 could be attributed to the E g modes' characteristic vibrations of internal Bi-Cl. 50 The weak peak at 395.7 cm À1 of BiOCl could be assigned to the B 1g and E g band generated by the motion of oxygen atoms. 51 XPS was further conducted to provide more evidence for the Ovs concentration.…”

One-pot room-temperature synthesis of a BiOCl hierarchical microsphere assembled from nanosheets with exposed {001} facets for enhanced photosensitized degradation

“…Bárdos et al synthesized BiOCl photocatalysts with hierarchical microcrystalline structure applying different additives and solvothermal synthesis. 30 Ding et al synthesized BiOCl hierarchical microspheres assembled by nanosheets via a solvothermal method. 21 In the process of synthesis, acetic acid, methanol, HCl solution, and concentrated ammonia solution are used.…”