Bismuth oxychloride-based materials for the removal of organic pollutants in wastewater

Various kind of organics are toxic and detrimental, resulting in eutrophication, black, odorous water and so on. Photocatalysis has been deemed to be a promising technology which can decompose different kinds of organic pollutants under visible light irradiation, finally achieving non-poisonous, harmless CO2, water and other inorganic materials. Bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) is considered as a promising photocatalyst for the efficient degradation of organic pollutants due to its high chemical stability, unique layered structure, resistance to corrosion and favorable photocatalytic property. However, BiOCl can only absorb UV irradiation because of its wide band gap of 3.2 eV-3.5 eV that limits its photocatalytic performance. Herein, a lot of methods have been reviewed to improve its photocatalytic activity. We introduced the unique and special layered structure of BiOCl, the typical and common synthesis methods that can control the morphology, and the most important part is varies of modification routes of BiOCl and the application of BiOCl-based materials for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. Besides, we summarized the crucial issues and perspectives about the application of BiOCl in pollution management. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Different forms of organic compounds are toxic and harmful, leading to issues like eutrophication and odorous water. Photocatalysis is seen as a promising technology to degrade these pollutants into non-toxic inorganic materials under visible light. Bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) is a potential photocatalyst, but its wide band gap limits its performance. Various methods to enhance its photocatalytic activity have been reviewed, along with the application and future prospects of BiOCl in pollution management.