Template-Free Synthesis and Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance of Uniform BiOCl Flower-Like Microspheres

Abstract

Preparation of uniform BiOCl flower-like microspheres was facilely accomplished through a simple protocol involving regulation of pH value in aqueous with sodium hydroxide in the presence of n-propanol. The as-prepared samples were characterized by a collection of techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. Based upon the SEM analyses, uniform microspheres could be formed with coexistence of some fragments of BiOCl nanosheets without n-propanol. The addition of appropriate amount of n-propanol was beneficial to provide BiOCl samples containing only flower-like microspheres, which were further subjected to the photocatalytic measurements towards Rhodamine B in aqueous under visible light irradiation and exhibited the best catalytic performance among all samples tested. In addition, the photocatalytic process was confirmed to undergo through a photosensitization pathway, in which superoxide radicals (• O − 2 played critical roles.

Fabrication of Dandelion-like p–p Type Heterostructure of Ag2O@CoO for Bifunctional Photoelectrocatalytic Performance

“…In the PEC process of Ag 2 O@CoO, the introduced Ag 2 O can significantly enhance the photoelectrocatalytic activity of CoO through the enhanced charge separation under additional bias voltage and visible light irradiation. Owing to 3D purple dandelion-like structural features, it provides effective electron transport pathways, high specific surface area, more reactive sites, and high light-harvesting efficiency. − The mechanism of the charge separation is shown in Scheme . Both Ag 2 O and CoO are very typical p-type narrow band gap semiconductors, and they can be easily excited under visible light irradiation to generate photoelectrons and holes.…”

Synthesis of “walnut‐like” BiOCl/Br solid solution photocatalyst by electrostatic self‐assembly method

“…[36][37][38][39] At present, the manufacture of BiOCl solid solution usually adopts high-temperature and high-pressure organic solvent method or multicomponent and multistep preparation process, and even sodium hydroxide and other substances are added into the system to regulate the reaction environment of the system. 40 The use of a large number of organic solvents such as EG, EtOH, and the like in the above process not only has the disadvantage of high cost, the high temperature, and high pressure harsh condition, but also, the harm to the environment caused by strong corrosive substances and other factors may be unfavorable for large-scale production. Nevertheless, the electrostatic adsorption self-assembly method under the condition of low temperature water bath can avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages.…”