Methods for preparing and enhancing photocatalytic activity of basic bismuth nitrate

Abstract Basic bismuth nitrate is a semiconductor photocatalyst with the advantages of low cost, low toxicity, high light stability, photo corrosion resistance, suitable photocatalytic band gap and so on. However, the wide band gap and the rapid recombination of photoinduced electrons and holes limit its photocatalytic activity. In recent years, much work has been done to improve the photocatalytic activity of basic bismuth nitrate. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in morphological control, doping with metal elements and constructing heterojunctions with other semiconductors to enhance the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants properties under simulated sunlight. This review will enlighten researchers in the field of materials chemistry to design novel basic bismuth nitrate-based and other semiconductor photocatalysts with high efficiency and expanding application.