A novel and facile procedure to decorate Bi2O3 with Bi2S3 nanocrystals: Composites synthesis, analyses, and photocatalytic performance assessment

In the current investigation, a novel and in-situ sulfurization protocol was utilized in pure carbon disulfide (CS2) to successfully establish binary composites Bi2S3-Bi2O3 at mom temperature. These composites were systematically analyzed for relevant microstructures and morphology. The existence of in-situ produced Bi2S3 in composites was confirmed by UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectra, and elemental mapping images. In addition, the resultant Bi2S3 species were formed as nanocrystals embellished on Bi2O3 surface to generate heterojunction structures. These achieved composites exhibited heightened photocatalytic degradation performance over Rhodamine B (RhB) and methyl orange (MO) in comparison to bare Bi2S3 and Bi2O3 under visible light, mainly attributing to suitable phase composition, strengthened visible-light absorption, and formation of heterojunction structures, by which abundant charge carriers were generated and spatially separated. In addition, these composites possessed satisfactory reusability and structural stability and a plausible type-II photocatalytic mechanism was eventually conjectured basing on band structures of both components and relevant experiments.

Automated summary

A novel sulfurization protocol in pure carbon disulfide was used to establish Bi2S3-Bi2O3 binary composites at room temperature, with the in-situ produced Bi2S3 forming nanocrystals on the Bi2O3 surface to generate heterojunction structures. These composites showed enhanced photocatalytic degradation performance, attributed to suitable phase composition, strengthened visible-light absorption, and the formation of heterojunction structures, leading to abundant charge carriers generation and spatial separation. Additionally, they exhibited satisfactory reusability and structural stability, with a plausible type-II photocatalytic mechanism speculated based on band structures and relevant experiments.