Review On Strategies For the Design and Synthesis of Flower‐Like Bi₂WO₆ and BiOX (X=F, Cl, Br, I) Composites for Photocatalytic Environmental Remediation

Abstract

In latest events, water pollution has posed an immense threat, and its sustainable treatment is a topic of concern. Among myriad of water treatment, research community has lensed towards sustainable heterogeneous photocatalysis especially, inorganic semiconductors. Bismuth tungstate a pristine Aurivillius compound with unique crystal structure, exceptional photochemical stability, and strong redox abilities but minimum visible light absorption and quick carrier recombination are its caveats, these caveats are circumvented by synthesizing BiOX (X=F, Cl, Br and I) composites with surface modifiers, doping with hetero atoms (metals and non‐metals), construction of the heterojunction and amalgamation of carbon materials. The heart of this review is strategic engineering of flower‐like morphology photocatalyst synthesis and optical properties, it also discusses the charge transfer kinetics, photocatalytic performance, and durability. The flower‐like morphology highlighted in this review is due to its ability to harvest light, providing larger specific surface area which introduces more active sites and efficient excitons generation. The comprehensive tabulated data in this review will help the actively engaged research community in Bismuth heterogenous photocatalysis. It also sheds light on the future view of environmental remediation via photocatalytic developments.