Enhanced photocatalytic performance of Bi-doped TiO 2 under sunlight and UV light: mechanistic insights and comparative analysis.

Bismuth-doped metal oxides exhibit favourable photocatalytic features when exposed to both sunlight and UV light. In this approach, Bi ⁰ /TiO ₂ and Bi ⁺³ /TiO ₂ photocatalysts were prepared and their structural and optical properties are analysed using various characterization techniques. These developed photocatalysts were further tested for the photocatalytic elimination of Nitrobenzene in UV light and sunlight and compared with the performance of bare TiO ₂ . The catalyst Bi ⁺³ /TiO ₂ performed better in UV light with 72.31% degradation, and 4.74 × 10 ^-6  mol.litre ^-1 .min ^-1 initial rate of reaction. However, when exposed to sunlight, Bi ⁰ /TiO ₂ outperformed with 73.85% degradation, and 4.63 × 10 ^-6  mol.min ^-1 initial rate of reaction. This significant increase in photocatalytic activity of Bi ⁰ /TiO ₂ under sunlight could be accredited to increased light harvesting and enhanced efficiency in charge carrier separation, both of which were made possible by bismuth-induced surface plasmon resonance.
(© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to the European Photochemistry Association, European Society for Photobiology.)