Hydroxyl-assisted iodine ions intercalating Bi2O2CO3 nanosheets to construct an interlayered bridge for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of phenols

Abstract

Promoting the charge migration and separation efficiency of Bi₂O₂CO₃ is an appealing strategy to improve its photocatalytic performance. Herein, iodine-intercalated Bi₂O₂CO₃ (I-Bi₂O₂CO₃) nanosheets were prepared with the assistance of solvents containing multiple hydroxyl groups through a facile hydrothermal route. The formation process and mechanism of I-Bi₂O₂CO₃ are illustrated. Notably, the intercalated iodine ions of the Bi₂O₂CO₃ nanosheets could modify the band structure of Bi₂O₂CO₃ and enhance its light response, while also acting as a bridge for efficient charge migration and separation. As a result, the resultant I-Bi₂O₂CO₃ nanosheets exhibited superior photocatalytic performance for phenol degradation, achieving complete phenol removal within 5 h under solar illumination. Furthermore, the reaction rate constant of the I-Bi₂O₂CO₃ nanosheets was ∼18 times that of Bi₂O₂CO₃. We expect this work to bring new insights into the structural regulation of photocatalysts for the efficient separation of charge carriers and enhanced photocatalytic performance.