Recent advances in bismuth oxyfluoride-based photocatalysts for energy and environmental remediation

Bismuth oxyfluoride (BiOF) is one of the semiconductors that can be used for environmental remediation-based photocatalytic applications. However, the rising star of bismuth-based photocatalysts such as BiVO4, Bi2MoO6, BiFeO3, BiOI, BiOBr, and BiOCl photocatalysts are hiding the evolution of BiOF photocatalysts. However, researchers keep on modifying the limitations of BiOF such as UV light active, poor charge separation and migration towards energy conversion and environmental applications. Several reviews were explored in the combination of BiOI, BiOBr, and BiOCl for energy and environmental applications and no other reviews specifically summarize the research progress of BiOF photocatalyst. Hence, this review describes the strange BiOF photocatalysts growth and their various synthesis methods advantages, structural, electronic, and optical properties. In addition, BiOF performance enhancement strategies such as modification with dopants, creation of defects, heterojunction construction, and incorporations of carbon-based materials towards improve the photocatalytic activity, charge transfer kinetics, stability, and efficiency. Furthermore, this review offers the future direction of energy and environmental such as photocatalytic nitrogen fixation and CO2 reduction to solar fuels.