One-pot synthesis of BiSCl–Bi6.88S8·64Cl3.36 nanorods for rhodamine B photodegradation in water

In the domain of water treatment, photocatalytic degradation presents a compelling approach. However, the quest for photocatalysts that exhibit superior solar energy absorption and conversion remains a challenge. We explore rod-shaped bismuth-rich chalcohalide photocatalyst BiSCl–Bi 6.88 S 8·64 Cl 3.36 by simple temperature control and demonstrate the proficiency in degrading organic pollution under visible light. BiSCl–Bi 6.88 S 8.64 Cl 3.36 nanorods manifest a composition-tailored band gap, effectively spanning the visible spectrum. Remarkably, in the absence of cocatalysts and sacrificial agents, BiSCl–Bi 6.88 S 8·64 Cl 3.36 exhibit exceptional photocatalytic degradation rate of 99.8%, which is comparable to that of BiSBr (98.6%). Moreover, the photodegradation rate of BiSCl–Bi 6.88 S 8·64 Cl 3.36 (0.091 min −1 ) is higher than that of BiSBr (0.048 min −1 ). The rate position it among the most effective known photocatalysts, with the generation of superoxide anion radicals (•O 2 − ) and photogenerated holes (h + ) as the primary active species. Notably, the enhanced photocatalytic activity of BiSCl–Bi 6.88 S 8·64 Cl 3.36 is attributed to the high number of Bi centers and the higher electronegativity, which induces a more polar crystal structure.