Low-Temperature Synthesis of α-BiTaO4 Photocatalyst by the Flux Method. (14th November 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shimada, Kohei; Izawa, Chihiro; Watanabe, Tomoaki
• Other Names: Collins F. Academic Editor.; Varin R. A. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: ISRN materials science. Volume 2012(2012)
• Publication Date: 2012-11-14
• Subjects: Materials science -- Periodicals; Materials science; Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.5402/2012/719087
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-6080

Abstract

Abstract : Low-temperature phase BiTaO4 ( α -BiTaO4 ) was successfully synthesized by the flux method using Bi2 O3 -B2 O3 as the flux. According to previous reports, α -BiTaO4 has been mostly synthesized via a solid state reaction, which requires heating at 900°C for more than 48 h. In this study, α -BiTaO4 was successfully synthesized in 4 h at 750°C using the flux method. The impact of varying reaction conditions on the products was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and a scanning electron microscopy analysis. The grain size of α -BiTaO4 was dependent on reaction conditions such as the reaction temperature and solute concentration. The photocatalytic activity of the obtained α -BiTaO4 was evaluated for the degradation of phenol. It was found that flux-synthesized α -BiTaO4 exhibited a higher photocatalytic activity than α -BiTaO4 synthesized using the solid state method.