Electrospun Nanofibrous Bismuth-based Materials for Photocatalytic Applications

Abstract

Low Dimensional Bismuth (LDB) based nanomaterials have created wide interest among the research community due to the unique electronic configuration of Bi, which is helpful in boosting the mobility of photogenerated carriers and hence extensively used for photocatalytic applications. Specifically, Bismuth Oxyhalides have demonstrated a huge range of applications as a pigment in the cosmetic industries, as a potential material for optoelectronic and photovoltaic devices (such as LEDs, lasers, solar panels, excellent photo-degradation material, etc.). It has also been found that BiOX (X = Cl, Br, I) in general have exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity on the degradation of Rhodamine B, and azo dyes such as Methyl Orange and Congo red under both UV and visible light irradiation. It has also been found that BiOX (X = Cl, Br, I) in general have exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity on the degradation of Rhodamine B, and azo dyes such as Methyl Orange and Congo red under both UV and visible light irradiation. The efficient way to explore and improve the efficiency is through the morphological manipulation of nanostructured materials since we can achieve high surface to volume ratios. So far, nano-materials in specific, Bismuth based nano-materials with distinct morphologies (nanotubes, nanowires, nano-flakes, nano-spheres) have, in most of the cases boosted the efficiency of the solar devices at an affordable cost range. In this thesis, the morphologies of the Bi-based materials were modified by changing molar concentrations of the precursors with the primary aim to improve the photocatalytic degradation of the low dimensional nano-materials under UV-light irradiation. By changing the elemental composition, the photodegradation activities of Bismuth Oxide (Bi2O3), Bismuth Oxy Chloride (BiOCl), Bismuth Oxy Bromide (BiOBr), and Bismuth Oxy Iodide (BiOI) were studied systematically. The results showed that the Bismuth Oxyhalides fabricated by a simple electrospinning method exhibited superior photocatalytic activity under UV-light irradiation towards Alizarin Red S, a hazardous, synthetic organic dye.