A bismuth based layer structured organic–inorganic hybrid material with enhanced photocatalytic activity

Abstract A bismuth-based organic–inorganic hybrid material with layered structure (BiO-BTC IE ) was synthesized by taking advantage of an ion exchange reaction. The structure of BiO-BTC IE was examined by XRD, EXAFS, FT-IR, TG/DTA, etc. By replacing the HCOO − with BTC anions in the Bi 2 O 2 2+ interlayer, the Bi 2 O 2 2+ layer is distorted as revealed by the EXAFS, which lead to a longer life time of the photogenerated charge carriers and a higher photocatalytic activity of BiO-BTC IE (more than 10 times).