Recent advances in bismuth-based multimetal oxide photocatalysts for hydrogen production from water splitting: Competitiveness, challenges, and future perspectives

The efficient utilization of photocatalytic technology is essential for clean energy. Bismuth-based multimetal oxides (Bi2WO6, Bi2MoO6, BiVO4 and Bi4Ti3O12) have aroused widespread attention as a visible light responsive photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution due to their low cost, nontoxicity, modifiable morphology, and outstanding optical and chemical properties. Nevertheless, the photocatalytic activities of pure materials are unsatisfactory because of their relative small specific surface area, poor quantum yield, and the rapid recombination of photogenerated carriers. Therefore, some modification strategies, including morphological control, semiconductor combination, doping, and defect engineering, have been systematically studied to enhance photocatalytic H2 evolution activity in the past few years. Herein, we summarize the recent research progress on bismuth-based photocatalysts, pointing out the prospects, opportunities and challenges of bismuth-based photocatalysts. Eventually, we aims to put forward valuable suggestions for designing of bismuth-based photocatalysts applied in hydrogen production on the premise of consolidating the existing theoretical basis of photocatalysis.