Engineering n-Type and p-Type BiOI Nanosheets: Influence of Mannitol on Semiconductor Behavior and Photocatalytic Activity

Photocatalytic technology holds significant promise for sustainable development and environmental protection due to its ability to utilize renewable energy sources and degrade pollutants efficiently. In this study, BiOI nanosheets (NSs) were synthesized using a simple water bath method with varying...

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Main Authors: Shuo Yang, Wenhui Li, Kaiyue Li, Ping Huang, Yuquan Zhuo, Keyan Liu, Ziwen Yang, Donglai Han
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Nanomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/24/2048
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author Shuo Yang
Wenhui Li
Kaiyue Li
Ping Huang
Yuquan Zhuo
Keyan Liu
Ziwen Yang
Donglai Han
author_facet Shuo Yang
Wenhui Li
Kaiyue Li
Ping Huang
Yuquan Zhuo
Keyan Liu
Ziwen Yang
Donglai Han
author_sort Shuo Yang
collection DOAJ
description Photocatalytic technology holds significant promise for sustainable development and environmental protection due to its ability to utilize renewable energy sources and degrade pollutants efficiently. In this study, BiOI nanosheets (NSs) were synthesized using a simple water bath method with varying amounts of mannitol and reaction temperatures to investigate their structural, morphological, photoelectronic, and photocatalytic properties. Notably, the introduction of mannitol played a critical role in inducing a transition in BiOI from an n-type to a p-type semiconductor, as evidenced by Mott–Schottky (M-S) and band structure analyses. This transformation enhanced the density of holes (h<sup>+</sup>) as primary charge carriers and resulted in the most negative conduction band (CB) position (−0.822 V vs. NHE), which facilitated the generation of superoxide radicals (·O<sup>2−</sup>) and enhanced photocatalytic activity. Among the samples, the BiOI-0.25-60 NSs (synthesized with 0.25 g of mannitol at 60 °C) exhibited the highest performance, characterized by the largest specific surface area (24.46 m<sup>2</sup>/g), optimal band gap energy (2.28 eV), and efficient photogenerated charge separation. Photocatalytic experiments demonstrated that BiOI-0.25-60 NSs achieved superior methylene blue (MB) degradation efficiency of 96.5% under simulated sunlight, 1.14 times higher than BiOI-0-70 NSs. Additionally, BiOI-0.25-60 NSs effectively degraded tetracycline (TC), 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-D), and rhodamine B (Rh B). Key factors such as photocatalyst concentration, MB concentration, and solution pH were analyzed, and the BiOI-0.25-60 NSs demonstrated excellent recyclability, retaining over 94.3% of their activity after three cycles. Scavenger tests further identified ·O<sup>2−</sup> and h<sup>+</sup> as the dominant active species driving the photocatalytic process. In this study, the pivotal role of mannitol in modulating the semiconductor characteristics of BiOI nanomaterials is underscored, particularly in promoting the n-type to p-type transition and enhancing photocatalytic efficiency. These findings provide a valuable strategy for designing high-performance p-type photocatalysts for environmental remediation applications.
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spelling doaj-art-f08575ec9c9c4ae0bb39210d5bef0f5d2025-08-20T02:43:20ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912024-12-011424204810.3390/nano14242048Engineering n-Type and p-Type BiOI Nanosheets: Influence of Mannitol on Semiconductor Behavior and Photocatalytic ActivityShuo Yang0Wenhui Li1Kaiyue Li2Ping Huang3Yuquan Zhuo4Keyan Liu5Ziwen Yang6Donglai Han7School of Materials Science and Engineering, Changchun University, Changchun 130022, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Changchun University, Changchun 130022, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Changchun University, Changchun 130022, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Changchun University, Changchun 130022, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Changchun University, Changchun 130022, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun 130022, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun 130022, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun 130022, ChinaPhotocatalytic technology holds significant promise for sustainable development and environmental protection due to its ability to utilize renewable energy sources and degrade pollutants efficiently. In this study, BiOI nanosheets (NSs) were synthesized using a simple water bath method with varying amounts of mannitol and reaction temperatures to investigate their structural, morphological, photoelectronic, and photocatalytic properties. Notably, the introduction of mannitol played a critical role in inducing a transition in BiOI from an n-type to a p-type semiconductor, as evidenced by Mott–Schottky (M-S) and band structure analyses. This transformation enhanced the density of holes (h<sup>+</sup>) as primary charge carriers and resulted in the most negative conduction band (CB) position (−0.822 V vs. NHE), which facilitated the generation of superoxide radicals (·O<sup>2−</sup>) and enhanced photocatalytic activity. Among the samples, the BiOI-0.25-60 NSs (synthesized with 0.25 g of mannitol at 60 °C) exhibited the highest performance, characterized by the largest specific surface area (24.46 m<sup>2</sup>/g), optimal band gap energy (2.28 eV), and efficient photogenerated charge separation. Photocatalytic experiments demonstrated that BiOI-0.25-60 NSs achieved superior methylene blue (MB) degradation efficiency of 96.5% under simulated sunlight, 1.14 times higher than BiOI-0-70 NSs. Additionally, BiOI-0.25-60 NSs effectively degraded tetracycline (TC), 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-D), and rhodamine B (Rh B). Key factors such as photocatalyst concentration, MB concentration, and solution pH were analyzed, and the BiOI-0.25-60 NSs demonstrated excellent recyclability, retaining over 94.3% of their activity after three cycles. Scavenger tests further identified ·O<sup>2−</sup> and h<sup>+</sup> as the dominant active species driving the photocatalytic process. In this study, the pivotal role of mannitol in modulating the semiconductor characteristics of BiOI nanomaterials is underscored, particularly in promoting the n-type to p-type transition and enhancing photocatalytic efficiency. These findings provide a valuable strategy for designing high-performance p-type photocatalysts for environmental remediation applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/24/2048BiOI nanosheetsphotocatalystsmannitoln-typep-type
spellingShingle Shuo Yang
Wenhui Li
Kaiyue Li
Ping Huang
Yuquan Zhuo
Keyan Liu
Ziwen Yang
Donglai Han
Engineering n-Type and p-Type BiOI Nanosheets: Influence of Mannitol on Semiconductor Behavior and Photocatalytic Activity
Nanomaterials
BiOI nanosheets
photocatalysts
mannitol
n-type
p-type
title Engineering n-Type and p-Type BiOI Nanosheets: Influence of Mannitol on Semiconductor Behavior and Photocatalytic Activity
title_full Engineering n-Type and p-Type BiOI Nanosheets: Influence of Mannitol on Semiconductor Behavior and Photocatalytic Activity
title_fullStr Engineering n-Type and p-Type BiOI Nanosheets: Influence of Mannitol on Semiconductor Behavior and Photocatalytic Activity
title_full_unstemmed Engineering n-Type and p-Type BiOI Nanosheets: Influence of Mannitol on Semiconductor Behavior and Photocatalytic Activity
title_short Engineering n-Type and p-Type BiOI Nanosheets: Influence of Mannitol on Semiconductor Behavior and Photocatalytic Activity
title_sort engineering n type and p type bioi nanosheets influence of mannitol on semiconductor behavior and photocatalytic activity
topic BiOI nanosheets
photocatalysts
mannitol
n-type
p-type
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/24/2048
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