Enhanced photocatalytic activity and reaction mechanism of Ag-doped α-Bi2O3 nanosheets

The alpha-Bi2O3 and Ag-doped nanosheets were successfully prepared via a citric method. Based on the sodium oxalate scavenger, it was inferred that the hole plays a key role in the photooxidation process for silver-doped Bi2O3. Combined further with the IR analysis, it is found that the center dot O-2(-) has an effect on the decolorization of methylene blue (MB) under visible-light irradiation. The O-2/H2O2 electrode could contribute to the separation of electron-hole pairs due to the electrons flowing from CB to this electrode. As a result, the doped Ag species greatly affected the photocatalytic activities of Bi2O3 by the oxidative decolorization of MB.