Glucose-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of plasmonic Bi deposited nested Bi2O2-xCO3 photocatalysts with enhanced photocatalytic activity

Crystal defects play an important role on the physical and chemical properties of semiconductors. In this work, a series of Bi/Bi2O2-xCO3 photocatalysts have been fabricated by an one-pot hydrothermal method, where glucose is used as reducing and morphological control agent. The phase structure, morphology, optical and photoelectrochemical properties of the photocatalysts are characterized by various techniques. These oxygen vacancies (OVs) have been confirmed and characterized by ESR spectroscopy and XPS spectra. The Bi/Bi2O2-xCO3 photocatalysts exhibits highest removal efficiency of Lanasol Red 5B and ciprofloxacin. The corresponding degradation rate constant for Lanasol Red 5B is about 2.28 times higher than that of Bi2O2CO3 under simulated solar irradiation, and 10.9 times under visible light irradiation, respectively. Radical scavenger experiments futher indicated that holes (h(+))and hydroxyl radical ((OH)-O-center dot) are the main active species for Lanasol Red 5B degradation. This enhanced photocatalytic performance can be rationalized by the synergistic effects of Bi plasmon and OVs, resulting in, enhanced light-harvesting and electron- hole separation ability of Bi/Bi2O2-xCO3 photocatalysts.