Reversible shuffling of the Ce3+H Ce4+through anion(O/P) for efficient overall photocatalytic water splitting with P-doped ceria bismuth oxide

Herein, we describe the combustion-based production of P-doped cerium bismuth oxide (CBO) solid solution using urea as the fuel and 8 h of anealing at 300 degrees C of cerium and bismuth nitrates, solid solutions produced as a result have good paramagnetic properties as well as a strong overall photocatalytic water splitting rate (12.0047 mmol H2 g-1 h-1 and 6.0023 mmol O2 g-1 h-1) when exposed to sunlight and under 300 W Xe light source (14.2230 mmol H2 g-1 h-1) exposure in 20 % aqueous methanol due to the maximum oxygen vacancy, reduced band gap (2.58 eV), greater Ce3+ amount relative to Ce4+, minimum stoichiometric ratio x, moderate porosity and the reversible switching of Ce3+ to Ce4+ ions through O/P sites to facilitate the competent surface for photocatalytic cleavage of water.