Introduction to bismuth oxyhalides: How the synthetic approach affects the physico-chemical properties?

Bismuth oxyhalides (BiOX, where X is Cl, Br, or I) are materials that have gained significant attention from the research community. These materials possess unique features, such as high chemical stability, interesting optical properties, nontoxicity, and corrosion resistance. However, to produce materials with the proper physico-chemical features that make them highly performing in different sectors, it is crucial to tune the experimental synthetic parameters. The type and concentration of precursors, temperature, reaction time, etc., play a critical role in producing BiOX materials with desired features. This chapter provides a brief introduction to BiOX-based materials, including their main physico-chemical properties and the conventional strategies used for their preparation. The chapter also provides a critical insight into the current state of the art that can guide the design of BiOX-based materials.