Synergy between Oxygen Vacancies and SPR Effect in of Bi@Vo-Bi2O3 for Efficient Photocatalytic Performance under Visible Light.

Abstract

It remains a significant challenge for a photocatalyst to achieve a broad light response, effective O2 adsorption and long photogenerated carrier lifetime in the catalytic reaction. Herein, we design a plasmonic Bi@Vo-Bi2O3 core@shell heterojunction via the hydrothermal method and demonstrate the presence of surface oxygen vacancies identified with electron spin resonance (EPR). Importantly, O2 temperature programmed desorption (O2-TPD) in combination with UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV/Vis DRS) revealed the introduction of plasmonic Bi as the core of Bi@Vo-Bi2O3 effectively promotes O2 adsorption by capturing electrons from the defect states and broad the light absorption response range, which synergistically promote catalytic activity on O2 reduction to H2O2 production, pollutant degradation and antibacterial performance in pure water without sacrificial agent. Additionally, the Schottky barrier interface in integrated Bi@Vo-Bi2O3 prevents the excited electrons from recombining with the holes. Furthermore, it was proven that 1O2 played a prominent role in the degradation of Methylene blue, as confirmed by scavenger experiments and detailed experimental characterizations. This work's insights into the photocatalysis mechanism may guide the development of new photocatalysts for enhancing photocatalytic performance.