Advances in Metal or Nonmetal Modification of Bismuth-Based Photocatalysts

Abstract

With the rapid growth of the economy, environmental and energy issues have become increasingly prominent. Solar energy, as a renewable and environmentally friendly energy source, has attracted the attention of many researchers. Maximizing the utilization of solar energy resources has become a hot research topic in the future. It is well known that photocatalytic technology can convert solar energy into chemical or electric energy, offering a solution to environmental pollution. Therefore, semiconductor photocatalytic technology has been recognized as one of the most eco-friendly approaches for addressing energy crises and environmental pollution. Bismuth-based semiconductor materials, have gained popularity in the field of photocatalysis due to their suitable band structure, wide range of variations, non-toxicity, and low cost. However, pure Bi-based photocatalysts suffer from high recombination efficiency of photoexcited electron-hole pairs, poor quantum yield and limited light absorption ability, resulting in low photocatalytic performance. To overcome these limitations, various strategies such as metal or nonmetal doping, metal deposition, construction of heterojunctions and inducing defect generation have been employed to enhance their photocatalytic performance. Among these strategies, element doping or metal deposition is considered an effective approach for adjusting the band structure and physicochemical properties of bismuth-based materials. This extends the range of light response and improves photocatalytic performance. This mini review aims to summarize the recent research progress in Bi-based materials modified by metal doping, nonmetal doping, metal and nonmetal co-doping, and metal deposition. It also explores their applications in different fields, including photocatalytic removal of pollutants and heavy metal ions, nitrogen reduction, carbon dioxide reduction, and photocatalytic antibacterial, etc. Regarding metal doping, we classify it into three categories: alkali or alkaline earth metals doping, transition metal doping, and rare earth metal doping, and provide a detailed introduction to the advantages and disadvantages of each type of doping. Nonmetallic doping is categorized into halogen and non-halogen doping, with a focus on the impact of nonmetallic doping on bismuth-based materials. Furthermore, we present a vertical comparison of the advantages of each element vertically. Co-doping, which combines the advantages of both metal and nonmetal elements, is briefly outlined in terms of recent research progress. In the case of metal deposition, we mainly discuss the impact on Bi based materials from two aspects: the Schottky barrier and the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect. Finally, we also discuss the current challenges and prospects faced by metal or nonmetal modified Bi-based photocatalysts.

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