title: Facile synthesis of light harvesting semiconductor bismuth oxychloride nano photo-catalysts for efficient removal of hazardous organic pollutants.
abstract: In the present work, bismuth oxychloride nanoparticles-a light harvesting semiconductor photocatalyst-were synthesized by a facile hydrolysis route, with sodium bismuthate and hydroxylammonium chloride as the precursor materials. The as-synthesized semiconductor photocatalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Photoluminescence spectroscopy techniques. The crystal structure, morphology, composition, and optical properties of these facile synthesized bismuth oxychloride nanoparticles (BiOCl NPs) were compared to those of traditional bismuth oxychloride. In addition, the photocatalytic performance of facile-synthesized BiOCl NPs and traditional BiOCl, as applied to the removal of hazardous organic dyes under visible light illumination, is thoroughly investigated. Our results reveal that facile-synthesized BiOCl NPs display strong UV-Vis light adsorption, improved charge carrier mobility and an inhibited rate of charge carrier recombination, when compared to traditional BiOCl. These enhancements result in an improved photocatalytic degradation rate of hazardous organic dyes under UV-Vis irradiance. For instance, the facile-synthesized BiOCl NPs attained 100% degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange dyes in approximately 30 mins under UV-Vis irradiation, against 55% degradation for traditional BiOCl under similar experimental conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health; Faculty of Public Health and Health informatics, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Zaki S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Seddigi
authors.affiliation: Laser Research Group, Department of Physics, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammed A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9570-4569
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gondal
authors.affiliation: Laser Research Group, Department of Physics, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Umair
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Baig
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, College of Applied Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Saleh A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health; Faculty of Public Health and Health informatics, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abdulaziz
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ekram Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Danish
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mazen M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Khaled
authors.affiliation: Laser Research Group, Department of Physics, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lais
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D001729:Bismuth / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008027:Light; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000737:chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D010777:Photochemistry; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D012666:Semiconductors; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D014876:Water Pollution; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C044685:bismuth oxychloride; C100258:methyl orange; D008751:Methylene Blue; D001729:Bismuth