The photocatalytic mechanism of BiOI with oxygen vacancy and iodine self-doping

The photocatalytic mechanism of BiOI with an oxygen vacancy and iodine self-doping is investigated by studying their structural, electronic and optical properties. The results of the first-principle calculations indicate that the utilization of the visible light region is broadened, and thus the photocatalytic performance is improved, via introducing an oxygen vacancy or I dopant. Among them, I-Bi doped BiOI shows the best photocatalytic performance, and it is also the preferred one of the three structures due to its better stability. The occurrence of I-Bi or I-I interactions in the original double iodine layer along with the introduction of I dopant leads to a planar localization of the photocatalytic mechanism. Then it is expected that the photo-generated carriers will transfer to the catalyst surface more easily; the photocatalytic activity of BiOI relies on the planar localization to a great degree.