ZnO-doped BiOCl nanoparticles for visible-light-driven photocatalysis

Abstract

The escalating presence of organic pollutants from industrial activities necessitates urgent measures for their degradation, given their adverse effects on environmental health and ecosystem equilibrium. This study explores the synthesis and characterization of bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) and zinc oxide (ZnO)-doped BiOCl nanoparticles for enhanced photocatalytic applications. BiOCl, a versatile material with applications in various sectors including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and photocatalysis, was synthesized using a novel chemical approach devoid of thermal treatments. ZnO doping induced notable changes in the optical properties of BiOCl, leading to enhanced light absorption within the visible spectrum. Characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and UV-visible spectroscopy were employed to analyze the structural and optical properties of the synthesized materials. XRD analysis confirmed the crystalline nature of BiOCl and doped ZnO, while SEM revealed the morphology and microstructure of the nanoparticles. EDX analysis confirmed the elemental composition of the samples, indicating the presence of Bi, O, Cl, and Zn. UV-visible spectroscopy revealed a red shift in the absorption edge upon ZnO doping, with Tauc curves indicating a direct bandgap of 3.26 eV for BiOCl and 3.35 eV for ZnO-doped BiOCl. This research highlights the potential of ZnO-doped BiOCl nanoparticles as efficient photocatalysts for environmental remediation applications.