A Comprehensive Review on Non-Trivalent Bismuth-Based Materials: Structure, Synthesis, and Strategies for Improving Photocatalytic Performance

Bi-based semiconducting materials have received tremendous attention due to their availability, non/low toxicity, ecological friendship, rich chemical forms, and good visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance. As compared to the commonly investigated trivalent bismuth (Bi(III))-based photocatalysts, non-trivalent bismuth-based materials (NTBBMs), such as BiO2-x, Bi2O4-x, Bi4O7, NaBiO3, and so on, exhibit excellent visible-light- and even full-spectrum-driven photocatalytic activity as they hold narrow bandgap, suitable positions of conduction band and valence band, and relatively redox-sensitive structures. In this review, it is attempted to summarize the recent progress in the preparation, microstructures, and modification strategies of various NTBBMs-based photocatalysts. At the end, the advantages and disadvantages of NTBBMs-based photocatalysts and future perspectives are presented. In this review, considering that non-trivalent bismuth-based materials (NTBBMs) as photocatalysts possess the excellent visible-light- or even infrared-light-responsive photocatalytic activity and yet survey reports are scared, the electronic structures, synthesis, and strategies for improving photocatalytic performance of various NTBBMs-based photocatalysts are comprehensively summarized, aiming to inspire new insights into the development of efficient NTBBMs-based photocatalysts in environmental remediation and energy utilization.image (c) 2023 WILEY-VCH GmbH