Nanosize α-Bi2O3 decorated Bi2MoO6via an alkali etching process for enhanced photocatalytic performance. Issue 16 (23rd January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hao, Zhiqiang; Xu, Lingling; Wei, Bo; Fan, Linlin; Liu, Yang; Zhang, Mingyi; Gao, Hong
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 5:Issue 16(2015)
• Page Start: 12346
• Page End: 12353
• Publication Date: 2015-01-23
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c4ra14184a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : The surface modification of Bi2 MoO6 by decorated nanosize α-Bi2 O3 was realized via an alkali etching process and an enhanced photocatalytic performance on photodagradation of RhB was observed. Abstract : Bi2 MoO6 /Bi2 O3 heterojunction photocatalysts were synthesized through a facile alkali etching method and their photocatalytic activity was evaluated by photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible-light irradiation. The photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. XRD, TEM and XPS results confirm that the Bi2 MoO6 /Bi2 O3 heterojunctions were formed after the alkali etching process. The photocatalytic activity can be easily controlled by adjusting the etching time and the highest visible-light-responsive photocatalytic performance was observed on Bi2 MoO6 /Bi2 O3 composite that was etched in 0.1 M NaOH for 45 min. Moreover, the mechanistic study suggested that the photoinduced holes played a major role for the RhB degradation and the photocurrent tests confirmed that the effective electron–hole separation on the interface of the p–n junction promotes the photocatalytic process.