Synthesis and Broadband Spectra Photocatalytic Properties of Bi(2)O(2)(CO(3))(1−x)S(x)

High efficiency photocatalyst Bi(2)O(2)(CO(3))(1−x)S(x) was synthesized conveniently with chemical bath precipitation using Bi(2)O(2)CO(3) as the precursor. The microstructures of the samples are systematically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and UV-Vis spectroscopy; the optical and photocatalytic properties are carefully tested as well. The content of S, which was tuned through the controlling of the precipitation process, was verified to have an intense effect over the photocatalytic properties. A nearly saturated S ratio and the best photocatalytic performance were observed in specimens with the most S content. Our study reveals that, with negligible influence of the morphology and crystal structure, Bi(2)O(2)(CO(3))(1−x)S(x) possessed a broadened optical absorption regionfromultraviolet to visible light, and enhanced photocatalytic activity in comparison to precursor Bi(2)O(2)CO(3) in photocatalytic degradation of Congo Red aqueous solution.