Name: a facile synthetic method to obtain bismuth oxyiodide microspheres highly functional for the photocatalytic processes of water depuration
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Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Facile Synthetic Method to Obtain Bismuth Oxyiodide Microspheres Highly Functional for the Photocatalytic Processes of Water Depuration at JoVE.com

The authors want to thank the Secretar&#237;a de Ciencia, Tecnolog&#237;a e Innovaci&#243;n de la Ciudad de M&#233;xico for the resources provided to carry out this work through the funded project SECITI/047/2016, and the National Funds for Scientific and Technological Development Chile (FONDECYT 11170431).

NOTE: Please read all the material safety data sheets (MSDS) before using the chemical reagents. Follow all the safety protocols by wearing a lab coat and gloves. Wear UV protection safety glasses during the photocatalysis tests. Be aware that nanomaterials may present important hazardous effects compared to their precursors.
1. Preparation of the BiOI microspheres
<ol>
	<li>For Solution 1, dissolve 2.9104 g of bismuth nitrate pentahydrate (Bi(NO3)3&#87...

<ol>
	<li>Yu, C., Zhou, W., Liu, H., Liu, Y., Dionysiou, D. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Design+and+fabrication+of+microsphere+photocatalysts+for+environmental+purification+and+energy+conversion.">Design and fabrication of microsphere photocatalysts for environmental purification and energy conversion.</a> Chemical Engineering Journal. 287, 117-129 (2016).</li><li>Wang, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Semiconductor+heterojunction+photocatalysts:+Design,+construction,+and+photocatalytic+performances.">Semiconductor heterojunction photocatalysts: Design, construction, and photocatalytic performances.</a> Chemical Society Reviews. 43 (15), 5234-5244 (2014).</li><li>Chou, S. Y., Chen, C. C., Dai, Y. M., Lin, J. H., Lee, W. 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W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Controlled+hydrothermal+synthesis+of+bismuth+oxychloride/bismuth+oxybromide/bismuth+oxyiodide+composites+exhibiting+visible-light+photocatalytic+degradation+of+2-hydroxybenzoic+acid+and+crystal+violet.">Controlled hydrothermal synthesis of bismuth oxychloride/bismuth oxybromide/bismuth oxyiodide composites exhibiting visible-light photocatalytic degradation of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid and crystal violet.</a> Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. 526, 322-336 (2018).</li><li>Meng, X., Zhang, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bismuth-based+photocatalytic+semiconductors:+Introduction,+challenges+and+possible+approaches.">Bismuth-based photocatalytic semiconductors: Introduction, challenges and possible approaches.</a> Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical. 423, 533-549 (2016).</li><li>Wang, Y., Deng, K., Zhang, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Visible+light+photocatalysis+of+BiOI+and+its+photocatalytic+activity+enhancement+by+in+situ+ionic+liquid+modification.">Visible light photocatalysis of BiOI and its photocatalytic activity enhancement by in situ ionic liquid modification.</a> Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 115 (29), 14300-14308 (2011).</li><li>Xiao, X., Zhang, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=De+Facile+synthesis+of+nanostructured+BiOI+microspheres+with+high+visible+light-induced+photocatalytic+activity.">De Facile synthesis of nanostructured BiOI microspheres with high visible light-induced photocatalytic activity.</a> Journal of Materials Chemistry. 20 (28), 5866-5870 (2010).</li><li>Chen, C. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bismuth+oxyfluoride/bismuth+oxyiodide+nanocomposites+enhance+visible-light-driven+photocatalytic+activity.">Bismuth oxyfluoride/bismuth oxyiodide nanocomposites enhance visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity.</a> Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. 532, 375-386 (2018).</li><li>Xia, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Self-assembly+and+enhanced+photocatalytic+properties+of+BiOI+hollow+microspheres+via+a+reactable+ionic+liquid.">Self-assembly and enhanced photocatalytic properties of BiOI hollow microspheres via a reactable ionic liquid.</a> Langmuir. 27 (3), 1200-1206 (2011).</li><li>Mera, A. C., Contreras, D., Escalona, N., Mansilla, H. 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Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+series+of+BiO+x+I+y/GO+photocatalysts:+synthesis,+characterization,+activity,+and+mechanism.">A series of BiO x I y/GO photocatalysts: synthesis, characterization, activity, and mechanism.</a> RSC Advances. 6 (86), 82743-82758 (2016).</li><li>Shi, X., Chen, X., Chen, X., Zhou, S., Lou, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Solvothermal+synthesis+of+BiOI+hierarchical+spheres+with+homogeneous+sizes+and+their+high+photocatalytic+performance.">Solvothermal synthesis of BiOI hierarchical spheres with homogeneous sizes and their high photocatalytic performance.</a> Materials Letters. 68, 296-299 (2012).</li><li>Di, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reactable+ionic+liquid-assisted+rapid+synthesis+of+BiOI+hollow+microspheres+at+room+temperature+with+enhanced+photocatalytic+activity.">Reactable ionic liquid-assisted rapid synthesis of BiOI hollow microspheres at room temperature with enhanced photocatalytic activity.</a> Journal of Materials Chemistry A. 2 (38), 15864-15874 (2014).</li><li>Ren, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Controllable+synthesis+of+hollow/flower-like+BiOI+microspheres+and+highly+efficient+adsorption+and+photocatalytic+activity.">Controllable synthesis of hollow/flower-like BiOI microspheres and highly efficient adsorption and photocatalytic activity.</a> CrystEngComm. 14 (13), 4384-4390 (2012).</li><li>Lei, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Room+temperature,+template-free+synthesis+of+BiOI+hierarchical+structures:+Visible-light+photocatalytic+and+electrochemical+hydrogen+storage+properties.">Room temperature, template-free synthesis of BiOI hierarchical structures: Visible-light photocatalytic and electrochemical hydrogen storage properties.</a> Dalton Transactions. 39 (13), 3273-3278 (2010).</li><li>Montoya-Zamora, J. M., Mart&#237;nez-de la Cruz, A., L&#243;pez Cu&#233;llar, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Enhanced+photocatalytic+activity+of+BiOI+synthesized+in+presence+of+EDTA.">Enhanced photocatalytic activity of BiOI synthesized in presence of EDTA.</a> Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. 75, 307-316 (2017).</li><li>He, R., Zhang, J., Yu, J., Cao, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Room-temperature+synthesis+of+BiOI+with+tailorable+(0+0+1)+facets+and+enhanced+photocatalytic+activity.">Room-temperature synthesis of BiOI with tailorable (0 0 1) facets and enhanced photocatalytic activity.</a> Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. 478, 201-208 (2016).</li><li>Song, J. M., Mao, C. J., Niu, H. L., Shen, Y. H., Zhang, S. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hierarchical+structured+bismuth+oxychlorides:+self-assembly+from+nanoplates+to+nanoflowers+via+a+solvothermal+route+and+their+photocatalytic+properties.">Hierarchical structured bismuth oxychlorides: self-assembly from nanoplates to nanoflowers via a solvothermal route and their photocatalytic properties.</a> CrystEngComm. 12, 3875-3881 (2010).</li><li>Mera, A. C., V&#225;ldes, H., Jamett, F. J., Mel&#233;ndrez, M. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=BiOBr+microspheres+for+photocatalytic+degradation+of+an+anionic+dye.">BiOBr microspheres for photocatalytic degradation of an anionic dye.</a> Solid State Science. 65, 15-21 (2017).</li><li>Kong, X. Y., Lee, W. C., Ong, W. J., Chai, S. P., Mohamed, A. 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We consider the mixture of the precursors as the critical step in the solvothermal synthesis of the BiOI microspheres. A very slow dripping of the KI solution into the Bi(NO3)3 solution (at a maximum of 1 mL/min) is crucial to obtain mesoporous microspheres, since it allows the slow formation and self-assembly of the [Bi2O2]+2 slabs, followed by the bonding with the iodide atoms to form the BiOI laminates. The lamellae are the bricks of the microspheres in the solvot...

A plethora of semiconductors has been synthesized so far, aiming for photocatalysts with high activity under visible light irradiation, either to degrade organic compounds or to generate renewable energy in the form of hydrogen1,2. Bismuth oxyhalides BiOX (X = Cl, Br, or I) are candidates for such applications because of their high photocatalytic efficiency under visible light or simulated sunlight irradiation3,4. The band gap energy (Eg) of bismuth oxyhalides decreases with the increase of the atomic number of the halide; thus, BiOI is the material displaying the lowest activation energy (Eg = 1.8 eV)5. Iodide atoms, bonded via Van der Waals force to bismuth atoms, create an electric field that favors the migration of the charge carriers to the semiconductor surface, triggering the photocatalytic process4,6. Moreover, the architecture of the crystallite has a critical role in the separa,tion of the charge carriers. Highly oriented structures in the (001) plane and 3D structures (such as microspheres) facilitate the charge carrier separation upon irradiation, increasing the photocatalytic performance7,8,9,10,11,12. In light of this, it is necessary to develop reliable synthetic methods to obtain structures that boost the photo-activity of the bismuth oxyhalide materials.
The solvothermal method is, by far, the most commonly used and studied route to obtain BiOI microspheres13,14,15,16. Some methodologies using ionic liquids have been also reported17, although the expenses associated with these methodologies can be higher. Microsphere structure is usually obtained using organic solvents such as ethylene glycol, which acts as a coordinating agent to form metallic alkoxides, resulting in a gradual self-assembling of [Bi2O2]2+ species18,19. Using the solvothermal route with ethylene glycol facilitates the formation of different morphologies by changing the key parameters in the reaction, such as temperature and reaction time4,18. There is a wide body of literature on synthetic methods to obtain BiOI microspheres, which shows contrasting information to achieve highly photoactive structures. This detailed protocol is aimed at showing a reliable synthetic method to obtain BiOI microspheres highly functional in the photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in water. We intend to help new researchers to successfully obtain this kind of materials, avoiding the most common pitfalls associated with the synthesis process.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Bismuth(III) nitrate pentahydrate</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>383074</td>
			<td>ACS reagent, &#8805;98.0%</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium iodide</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>746428</td>
			<td>ACS reagent, &#8805;98.0%</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethylene glycol</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>324558</td>
			<td>Anhydrous, 99.8%</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethanol</td>
			<td>Meyer</td>
			<td>5405</td>
			<td>Technical Grade, 96%</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ciprofloxacin</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>17850</td>
			<td>HPLC, &#8805;98.0%</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cary 5000 UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer</td>
			<td>Agilent</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Used for the Band gap determination by the Tauc model.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>JSM-5600 Scanning Electron Microscope</td>
			<td>JOEL</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Used for the SEM images.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Autosob-1</td>
			<td>Qantachrome Instruments</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Used for the determination of surface area and pore diameter.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TOC-L Total Organic Carbon Analyzer</td>
			<td>Shimadzu</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Used for determination of total organic carbon in water samples.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bruker AXS D8 Advance - X-ray Diffraction</td>
			<td>Bruker</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Determination of crystal structure and crystallite size</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

a facile synthetic method to obtain bismuth oxyiodide microspheres highly functional for the photocatalytic processes of water depuration

Bismuth oxyhalide (BiOI) is a promising material for sunlight-driven-environmental photocatalysis. Given that the physical structure of this kind of materials is highly related to its photocatalytic performance, it is necessary to standardize the synthetic methods in order to obtain the most functional architectures and, thus, the highest photocatalytic efficiency. Here, we report a reliable route to obtain BiOI microspheres via the solvothermal process, using Bi(NO3)3 and potassium iodide (KI) as precursors, and ethylene glycol as a template. The synthesis is standardized in a 150 mL autoclave, at 126 &#176;C for 18 h. This results in 2-3 &#181;m-sized mesoporous microspheres, with a relevant specific surface area (61.3 m2/g). Shortening the reaction times in the synthesis results in amorphous structures, while higher temperatures lead to a slight increase in the porosity of the microspheres, with no effect in the photocatalytic performance. The materials are photo-active under UV-A/visible light irradiation for the degradation of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin in water. This method has demonstrated to be effective in interlaboratory tests, obtaining similar BiOI microspheres in Mexican and Chilean research groups.

3D microstructures of BiOI were successfully synthesized by the proposed synthetic method. This was confirmed by the SEM images shown in Figure 1a-c. The microspheres are formed from laminar structures of [Bi2O2]2+, which are bonded by two iodide atoms1. The formation of the microspheres depends on the temperature and time of the solvothermal procedure, as these paramet...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Facile Synthetic Method to Obtain Bismuth Oxyiodide Microspheres Highly Functional for the Photocatalytic Processes of Water Depuration at JoVE.com

A Facile Synthetic Method to Obtain Bismuth Oxyiodide Microspheres Highly Functional for the Photocatalytic Processes of Water Depuration

This article describes a synthetic method to obtain bismuth oxyiodide microspheres, which are highly functional to perform the photocatalytic removal of organic pollutants, such as ciprofloxacin, in water under UV-A/visible light irradiation.

Bismuth oxyhalide (BiOI) is a promising material for sunlight-driven-environmental photocatalysis. Given that the physical structure of this kind of ...

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