Enhancing visible light photocatalytic and photocharge separation of (BiO)2CO3 plate via dramatic I− ions doping effect

• Novel I-(BiO)2CO3 was prepared by a facile chemical precipitation method.
• I− ions impurity level located on the top of valence band of (BiO)2CO3.
• I− ions doping largely improved photocatalytic activity of I-(BiO)2CO3.
• I-(BiO)2CO3 displayed excellent photocharge separation efficiency.

Novel I− ions doped (BiO)2CO3 (I-(BiO)2CO3) photocatalysts were successfully synthesized via a facile chemical precipitation method. Under visible light (λ > 400 nm), I-(BiO)2CO3 displayed much higher activity for rhodamine B and dichlorophenol degradation than the undoped (BiO)2CO3. The pseudo-first-order rate constant kapp of RhB degradation over 15.0% I-(BiO)2CO3 was 0.54 h−1, which is 11.3 times higher than that of (BiO)2CO3. The doped I− ions formed an impurity level on the top of valence band of (BiO)2CO3 and induced much more visible light to be absorbed. The enhanced photocurrent and surface photovoltage properties were detected, which strongly ensures the efficient separation of electrons and holes in I-(BiO)2CO3 system under visible light. It provides a facile way to improve the photocatalytic activity of the wide-band-gap (BiO)2CO3 via intense doping effect of I− ions.

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