Nickel-Doping accelerated charge separation in flower ball-like Bi4O5I2 for efficient visible-light photocatalytic performance

Ion-doped semiconductor photocatalysts were considered to be an important strategy to improve photocatalytic performance. A simple one-step solvothermal method was used to prepare flower ball-shaped Bi4O5I2 nanomaterials modified by Nickel. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra, photocurrent response and EIS Nyquist plots were used to explore its structural composition and photoelectrochemical properties. The photocatalytic activity was studied by simulating the degradation of tetracycline under visible light. The degradation results showed that photocatalytic effect of 5 wt% Ni-doped Bi4O5I2 was the best among the samples, and the degradation rate was 91%. The capture experiment shown that the vital active radical is O2–. The final results shown that Ni-doping improved the charge separation efficiency and the specific surface area of the material, and it is proved by Raman that Ni-doping formed shallow traps on the surface of Bi4O5I2, which promoted the separation and transfer of carriers and improved the photocatalytic activity. This work can provide a reference for the subsequent development of bismuth-based photocatalysts.