Recent advances in BiOX-based photocatalysts to enhanced efficiency for energy and environment applications

Bismuth oxyhalides (BiOX) nano-materials are considered to be the most encouraging candidates to deal with environmental remediation, energy conversion, and degradation of organic pollutants because of their attractive characteristics, such as appropriate band structure, suppressed charges recombination ability, and good catalytic activity. The pure BiOX does not justify the advisable fine-tune photocatalytic efficiency. Therefore, several BiOX morphologies are synthesized, such as atomic layers, ultrathin nano-sheets, nano-spheres, and nano-tubes to enhance multiple applications performance. Moreover, the photocatalytic sites, quantum efficiency, charge separation, and light absorption efficiency of BiOX are largely studied for higher photocatalytic activity. Generally, we reviewed the highly advanced strategies for enhanced photocatalytic activities including simultaneous decontamination of wastewater as well as energy conversion. Furthermore, the review objective; is to summarize recent scientific and technological challenging about bismuth oxyhalides composites including fabrication methods, photocatalytic activity, and performance improving challenging of BiOX based photocatalysts. Moreover, we proposed comprehensive upcoming positive advances and developments comprising potential applications on behalf of BiOX based photocatalysts.