Synthesis of sulphur doped bismuth selenide photocatalysts by the solvothermal method and their photocatalytic activities under visible-light irradiation

A visible-light S-doped BiSe photocatalyst was prepared by the solvothermal method in ethanediamine solvent. The photocatalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV–vis diffusive reflectance spectroscopy, and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. Its activity was evaluated by photocatalytic oxidation of methylene blue under visible-light irradiation (λ > 400 nm). The reaction time and temperatures, as well as the precursor composition of S-doped BiSe, were found to exert great influence on photocatalytic activity.

► A new sulphur doped BiSe photocatalyst was synthesized by a solvothermal route. ► The sulphur dopants may be expected to modify band-gap energies and improve their photocatalytic activities for the degradation of organic pollutants under visible-light irradiation. ► The photocatalytic activity of the as-synthesized samples is higher than that of alone Bi2S3 and Bi2Se3.