Urchin-Like Bi2S3/Ag Nanostructures for Photocatalytic Reduction of Cr(VI)

Herein, a series of urchin-like Bi2S3/Ag nanostructures with different weight ratios of Ag NPs to Bi2S3 was constructed. Incorporation of Ag to urchin-like Bi2S3 not only generates more deep-level effects, thus enhancing the photothermal conversion efficiency and improving the optical absorption capacity in the near-infrared region, but also accelerates the separation ability of photogenerated carriers, leading to high photocatalytic efficiency. The significantly improved photocatalytic activity of Bi2S3/Ag nanostructures under full spectral irradiation (about seven times that of bare Bi2S3 under general photocatalysis conditions) was caused by the synergies between photocatalysis and photothermal effects of urchin-like Bi2S3/Ag. This study could provide deep insights into the design of high-efficient photocatalysts based on the photothermal effect.