Solar‐Driven Selective Oxidation Over Bismuth‐Based Semiconductors: From Prolific Catalysts to Diverse Reactions

Abstract

Synthesis of organic compounds often necessitates rigorous reaction conditions or the involvement of hazardous oxidants, resulting in substantial energy consumption and considerable environmental damage. Photocatalytic selective oxidation represents a green and environmentally friendly way to obtain high‐value chemicals, which has developed rapidly in recent years. Bismuth‐based (Bi‐based) semiconductor materials have gained intense interest in selective organic synthesis due to their diverse crystal structures and compositions, tunable band structure, and outstanding photocatalytic performance. Herein, a systematic summary of the solar‐driven selective oxidation over varieties of Bi‐based semiconductors is provided. Initially, the reactive species involved in selective oxidation, Bi‐based materials widely used in photocatalytic selective oxidation, and the methods for synthesizing these Bi‐based materials are meticulously classified. Concerning their selective oxidation reactions, a variety of modification strategies, with a focus on the separation of photogenerated carriers and the regulation of reactive species is extensively documented. Highlights are the diverse applications and mechanism discussions of Bi‐based photocatalysts in the oxidation reactions, including alcohol oxidation, C─H bond activation, amine oxidation, and sulfide oxidation, as well as the coupling reactions with photoreduction. Finally, the future development prospects and challenges of Bi‐based photocatalysts in the field of selective oxidation is proposed, hoping to provide valuable insights and guidance for the design of photocatalysts for selective oxidation.

Polyoxometalates tailoring of frustrated Lewis pairs on Ce-doped Bi2O3 for boosting photocatalytic CO2 reduction

“…Bismuth oxide (Bi 2 O 3 ) has been the subject of much research in the field of semiconductor photocatalysis because the weak Bi–O bond in Bi 2 O 3 favours oxygen vacancy (OV) generation. 5,6 The OVs generated on the Bi 2 O 3 surface are very advantageous for the activation of very inert CO 2 and H 2 O molecules. 7 There have been many reports using Bi 2 O 3 for the photocatalytic CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR), 8,9 but the problem of carrier recombination is serious and the photogenerated electron transfer efficiency remains very low.…”