Non-centrosymmetric polar Bi 2O 2(OH)(NO 3) with a rational band structure and {001} active exposing facets is developed as a robust layered photocatalyst for photooxidative diverse industrial contaminants and pharmaceuticals.
Developing high-performance photocatalytic materials is of huge significance and highly desirable for fulfilling the pressing need in environmental remediation. In this work, we demonstrate the use of bismuth nitrate Bi 2O 2(OH)(NO 3) as an absorbing photocatalyst, which integrates multiple superiorities, like a [Bi 2O 2] 2+ layered configuration, a non-centrosymmetric (NCS) polar structure and highly reactive {001} facets. Bi 2O 2(OH)(NO 3) nanosheets are obtained by a facile one-pot hydrothermal route using Bi(NO 3) 3·5H 2O as the sole raw material. Photocatalysis assessment revealed that Bi 2O 2(OH)(NO 3) holds an unprecedented photooxidation ability in contaminant decomposition, far out-performing the well-known photocatalysts BiPO 4, Bi 2O 2CO 3, BiOCl and P25 (commercial TiO 2). Particularly, it displays a universally powerful catalytic activity against various stubborn industrial contaminants and pharmaceuticals, including phenol, bisphenol A, 2,4-dichlorophenol and tetracycline hydrochloride. In-depth experimental and density functional theory (DFT) investigations co-uncovered that the manifold advantages, such as large polarizability and rational band structure, as well as exposed {001} active facets, induced robust generation of strong oxidating superoxide radicals (˙O 2 −) in the conduction band and hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) in the valence band, thus enabling Bi 2O 2(OH)(NO 3) to have a powerful and durable photooxidation capability. Bi 2O 2(OH)(NO 3) also presents high photochemical stability. This work not only rendered a highly active and stable photocatalyst for practical applications, but also laid a solid foundation for future initiatives aimed at designing new photoelectronic materials by manipulating multiple advantageous factors.