A novel bismuth hydroxide (Bi(OH) 3 ) semiconductor with highly-efficient photocatalytic activity.

Herein, a novel Bi(OH) 3 photocatalyst was successfully synthesized. Benefiting from the suitable band positions, abundant alkaline groups and oxygen vacancies, the as-prepared semiconductor exhibits efficient activity in both photocatalytic CO 2 reduction with a CO production rate of 36 μmol g -1 h -1 and phenol decomposition with a 92.7% degradation rate in 180 min.