Synthesis of bismuth oxybromochloroiodide/graphitic carbon nitride quaternary composites (BiOxCly/BiOmBrn/BiOpIq/g-C3N4) enhances visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity

BiOxCly/BiOmBrn/BiOpIq/g-C3N4 was prepared by using the hydrothermal synthesis. The composition and morphologies of the composites were controlled by adjusting the reaction pH value, temperature, and molar ratio. The optimized BiOxCly/BiOmBrn/BiOpIq/g-C3N4 photocatalyst increased the rate of photocatalytic conversion from CO2 to CH4 to 0.036 mu mol g-1 h-1 and these samples were subjected to photocatalytic degradation with CV. The enhanced photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the effective separation of photogenerated carriers driven by the photoinduced potential difference generated at these heterostructure interfaces, the transfer of photogenerated electrons through the g-C3N4 skeleton, and the favorable alignment of the straddling band structure from BiOxCly/BiOmBrn/BiOpIq/g-C3N4.

Automated summary

In this study, BiOxCly/BiOmBrn/BiOpIq/g-C3N4 photocatalyst was prepared using hydrothermal synthesis. The composition and morphologies of the composites were controlled by adjusting reaction conditions. The optimized photocatalyst exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity for CO2 conversion to CH4, which can be attributed to effective separation of photogenerated carriers, efficient electron transfer, and a favorable band structure alignment.