Defective Bi@BiOBr/C microrods derived from Bi-MOF for efficient photocatalytic NO abatement: Directional regulation of interfacial charge transfer via carbon-loading

The implementation of precisely directional electron transfer at the interface of catalysts is still considered a huge challenge. Herein, hierarchical Bi@BiOBr/C microrods derived from a novel Bi-MOF were employed as a model to precisely construct the atomic-level interface electrons transfer channels via carbon-bismuth bonding. The optimized Bi@BiOBr/C with plasmonic Bi and oxygen vacancies exhibited a photocatalytic removal efficiency of 69.5 % for ppb-level atmospheric NO, which is 3.5 times higher than that of pure BiOBr (19.8 %). The enhanced photocatalytic performance is owing to precisely constructed electron transport channels with loaded graphitic carbon as a bridge (i.e., BiOBr -> graphitic carbon -> Bi nanoparticles). Further DFT calculations demonstrated the built-in graphitic carbon reconstructs an Ohmic contact with BiOBr and eliminates the Schottky barrier between BiOBr and Bi nanoparticles, enhancing the photoelectron transfer efficiency. This research represents an exciting case for the modulation of photoelectron transfer at the catalysts interface for air purification.