Synthesis and Broadband Spectra Photocatalytic Properties of Bi₂O₂(CO₃) 1-x S x .

High efficiency photocatalyst Bi₂O₂(CO₃)1- x S x was synthesized conveniently with chemical bath precipitation using Bi₂O₂CO₃ as the precursor. The microstructures of the samples are systematically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and UV-Vis spectroscopy; the optical and photocatalytic properties are carefully tested as well. The content of S , which was tuned through the controlling of the precipitation process, was verified to have an intense effect over the photocatalytic properties. A nearly saturated S ratio and the best photocatalytic performance were observed in specimens with the most S content. Our study reveals that, with negligible influence of the morphology and crystal structure, Bi₂O₂(CO₃)1- x S x possessed a broadened optical absorption regionfromultraviolet to visible light, and enhanced photocatalytic activity in comparison to precursor Bi₂O₂CO₃ in photocatalytic degradation of Congo Red aqueous solution.