Enhanced Photoreduction Activity in BiOI 1‐x F x Nanosheet for Efficient Removal of Pollutants from Aqueous Solution

• Published in: ChemistrySelect (Weinheim) 2020-08, Vol.5 (31), p.9758-9764
• Main Authors: Al‐Keisy, Amar, Mahdi, Rahman, Ahmed, Duha, Al‐Attafi, Kadhim, Abd. Majid, Wan Haliza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2365-6549; 2365-6549
• DOI: 10.1002/slct.202000805

Bismuth oxyhalide compounds have similar electronic configurations and crystal structures. Due to high electronegativity, they can be used for synthesizing solid solutions that have a number of advantages, which are enhanced charge separation, efficient adsorption, and high photoreduction potential. Solid solutions of the general formula BiOI 1‐x F x (X=0 to 0.5) were prepared using the soft chemical method. The investigation of the optical properties of the considered solid solutions revealed a blue shift in wavelength. The solid solution BiOI 0.7 F 0.3 exhibited an excellent adsorption coefficient and optimum photodegradation performance with RhB dye. Compared to pure BiOI, it showed higher adsorption and caused twice more efficient photodegradation. The different density functional theory (DFT) methods calculations revealed that the shift in band gap in the considered solid solutions mainly took the form of up‐shifting in the conduction band; thus, it was predicted that the reduction potential would increase with the increase in fluorine content. The results thus suggest that BiOI 1‐x F x solid solutions are a viable alternative for the use in photocatalytic removal of toxic Pb 2 ions from aqueous solutions.