Molten-salt-mediated synthesis of Na+ doped Bi4TaO8Cl nanosheets with exposed {001} facets for enhanced photocatalytic degradation

Regulating the exposed surfaces of semiconductors is believed to be a versatile strategy to boost their photoactivity. Herein, the Na+ doped Bi4TaO8Cl (BTOC) nanosheets with the exposed {001} active faces were synthesized via a facile molten salt method. The size of BTOC nanosheets could be readily tuned by con-trolling the feeding content of the molten salts (NaCl and KCl). Benefited from the cooperative effect of the Na+ doping and the exposed active {001} facets, the optimal BTOC-24 nanosheets exhibited high photo activity. Under 5 W white LED light irradiation, the degradation rates of BTOC-24 nanosheets for ofloxacin (OFL) and Rhodamine B (RhB) were 84.1% and 97.3%, which were drastically enhanced by 2 and 6-folds than that of bulk BTOC, respectively. The mechanism for the improved photoactivity was also investigated. This work demonstrates the synergetic effect of engineering the thickness and exposed crystal face towards the enhanced photoactivity of 2D BTOC, which also shows significant implications for designing other 2D semiconductor nanosheet with efficient environmental remediation performance. (c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study successfully synthesized Na+-doped BTOC nanosheets with exposed active surfaces by controlling the feeding content of the molten salts. It was found that these nanosheets exhibited high photoactivity, with degradation rates 2 to 6 times higher than that of bulk BTOC.