1 + 1 > 2: A critical review of MOF/bismuth-based semiconductor composites for boosted photocatalysis

Abstract Photocatalysis is an effective procedure for environmental remediation and energy production. Considering that both the bismuth-based semiconductors and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are star photocatalysts, the combination of bismuth-based semiconductors with MOFs is beneficial to overcome their shortcomings like narrow sunlight absorption range, deficient active sites and rapid charges recombination rate. Recently, these composites displayed outstanding photocatalytic performances toward nitric oxide (NO) oxidation, Cr(VI) reduction, oxygen production, nitrogen (N2) fixation and organic pollutants degradation. In this review, we focused to discuss the fabrication and synthesis methods, characterizations, photocatalytic applications as well as the corresponding mechanisms of some representative MOF/bismuth-based semiconductor composites (abbreviated as MBCs). Finally, new insights are proposed to meet the future challenges and development of the composites, which can provide better knowledge for the advancement of the related research areas.