Improved photoelectric properties of BiOBr nanoplates by co-modifying SnO2 and Ag to promote photoelectrons trapped by adsorbed O2

It is highly desired to improve the photoelectric property of nanosized BiOBr by promoting the photogenerated charge transfer and separation. Herein, SnO2 and Ag comodified BiOBr nanocomposites (Ag-SO-BOB) have been prepared through a simple one-pot hydrothermal method. Surface photovoltage response of BiOBr nanoplates has 4.1- time enhancement after being modified with SnO2 nanoparticles. Transient-state surface photovoltage (TS-SPV) and the atmosphere-controlled steady-state surface photovoltage spectroscopy (AC-SPS) confirmed that this exceptional enhancement of the photovoltage response can be ascribed to the coupled SnO2 acting as platform for accepting the photoelectrons from BiOBr so as to prolong the lifetime and enhance charge separation. Remarkably, the surface photovoltage response can be further enhanced by synchronously introducing Ag nanoparticles, which is up to 15.4-times enhancement compared with bulk BiOBr nanoplates. The enhancement can be attributed to the improved O2 adsorption by introducing Ag to further enhance charge separation. Finally, the synergistic effect of SnO2 and Ag co-modification enhances the surface photovoltage response due to the enhanced charge separation and promoted O2 adsorption, which is also confirmed through photoelectrochemistry and photocatalytic experiment.