Recent advances in photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in wastewater using bismuth-based catalysts modified with low-dimensional materials

One of the major threats posed by rapid economic development is environmental pollution, especially water pollution. This issue has a wide range of pollution sources, the presence of recalcitrant pollutants, and a lengthy duration of pollution, all of which significantly hamper the ecological balance. In recent years, the application potential of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in the field of water treatment has been demonstrated, particularly in the realm of photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants, which not only saves energy but also removes pollutants quickly and effectively. Among them, bismuth-based catalysts exhibit unique catalytic activity due to their special electronic structure and band gap. In addition, low-dimensional materials, specifically zero-, one-, and two-dimensional materials, and the specificity of their crystal structures cause very peculiar physical phenomena. More importantly, their modification enhances the electron transfer of the bismuth-based catalysts, hinders the charge complexation process, and inhibits the reassembly of photoinduced electron-hole pairs, all of which are of great importance in enhancing the catalytic activity of Bi-based catalysts. Therefore, this paper reviews the application of modified bismuth-based composite catalysts in wastewater treatment from the perspective of different low-dimensional materials. The mechanistic aspects of how different low-dimensional materials enhance the catalytic performance of Bi-based catalysts are examined, and the challenges and future prospects of Bi-based catalysts are discussed. Research in this field is expected not only to tackle the issues of environmental pollution and water shortage but also to promote the development of materials science and catalytic chemistry.