Research Progress in the Preparation and Application of BiOBr‐Based Z‐scheme Heterojunction Composite Photocatalysts

Abstract

Bismuth bromide oxide (BiOBr) photocatalysts suffer from the defects of low light energy utilization, low efficiency, and easy deactivation, which limit their wide applications. BiOBr‐based Z‐scheme heterojunctions have strong redox capabilities due to their unique structure that can improve the separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes. This paper describes the preparation of BiOBr‐based Z‐scheme heterojunctions and analyzes the morphology and structural features of the photocatalytic materials obtained by different preparation methods. The applications of BiOBr‐based Z‐scheme heterojunction composite photocatalysts are discussed, including photocatalytic preparation of hydrogen, degradation of pollutants in wastewater, and carbon dioxide reduction, as well as the analysis of the catalyst's mechanism of action in each degradation process and the calculation of charge transfer paths of the relevant materials by DFT. The results show that the photocatalytic activity of such photocatalyst materials can be improved by constructing BiOBr‐based Z‐scheme heterojunctions to increase the photocarrier separation efficiency and transport capacity. But the photocatalytic mechanism, such as the separation efficiency of interfacial carriers and the transport pathways, needs to be further explored.