Factors affecting photocatalytic performance through the evolution of the properties due to the phase transition from NaBiO₃·2H₂O to BiO_2–x

Abstract

The phase transition process of a photocatalytic system from NaBiO₃·2H₂O to BiO_2–x has been investigated to understand the important factors that affect photocatalytic performance in a composite system. It is found that a proper amount of BiO_2–x on the surface of NaBiO₃·2H₂O could effectively suppress the electron/hole recombination and increase the exposed reactive sites for photocatalytic reaction. A fully covered BiO_2–x on NaBiO₃·2H₂O results in a dramatical decrease of photocatalytic degradation of dye. An over long hydrothermal process can result in BiO_2–x with reduced oxygen vacancies, which degrades the photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, the photocatalytic reduction ability of CO₂ conversion has been investigated, indicating that the surface activity to different reactants also directly affects the catalytic performance. The investigation of the gradient phase transition process presents a clear guidance to construct a desired photocatalytic system, in addition to selecting gradient materials with suitable bandgap structure and a morphology with different fraction and distribution of each component. The defect evolution of each component during construction of a composite is also an important factor that should be optimized and considered in making a composite to achieve high photocatalytic efficiency.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

composite construction / distribution / BiO_2–x / evolution of defects

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (2017R1D1A1B03032265 and 2019R1A2C1086881). SEM characterization in this research was supported by Nano-material Technology Development Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (2009-0082580).

Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-021-0778-4 and is accessible for authorized users.

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