Tuning the Conduction Band Potential of Bi-based Semiconductors Using a Combination of Organic Ligands.

Most Bi-based semiconductors are incapable of photocatalytic reduction reaction from a thermodynamic view, owing to relatively positive conduction band potentials (ECB ). Here, a novel Bi-based metal-organic framework (Bi-MBA, MBA=4-mercaptobenzoic acid) with excellent photocatalytic reduction activities is developed. The ECB of Bi-MBA locates at -1.38 eV, which is able to efficiently reduce O2 , CrVI and CO2 . Theoretical calculations reveal the significant contribution of organic ligand (MBA) to the conduction band. Our results provide an effective route to improve the photocatalytic reduction activities of Bi-based photocatalysts.