Preparation and visible light photocatalytic activity of Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}/Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} heterojunction photocatalysts

Journal Article · Mon Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Journal of Solid State Chemistry

OSTI ID:21580216

Mingsheng, Gui ^[1]; Qingxi, Su; Caihong, Chen ^[1]

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1. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, 381 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510640 (China)

The Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}/Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} heterojunction photocatalysts were prepared by a two-step solvothermal process using Bi(NO{sub 3}){sub 3}-ethylene glycol solution as Bi source. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV-vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy. The heterostructure catalysts are composed of Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles as modifier and 3D Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} microspheres as substrate. Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles with diameters of about 10-15 nm are tightly grown on the lateral surface of the Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} microspheres. The hierarchical Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}/Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} microspheres exhibit higher photocatalytic activity than the single phase Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} or Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3} for the degradation of rhodamine B under visible light illumination ({lambda}>420 nm). The enhancement of the photocatalytic activity of the Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}/Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} heterojunction catalysts can be ascribed to their improved light absorption property and the reduced recombination of the photoexcited electrons and holes during the photocatalytic reaction. The effect of loading amount of Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3} on the catalytic performance of the heterojunction catalysts was also investigated and the optimal content of Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3} is 3 wt%. The Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}/Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} heterojunction photocatalysts are essentially stable during the photocatalytic process. - Graphical abstract: The Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}/Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} heterojunction catalysts were constructured with improved photocatalytic activity, which can be ascribed to their improved light absorption property and the reduced recombination rate between photoexcited electrons and holes. Highlights: > Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}/Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} heterojunction photocatalysts. > Effective separation of photoexcited electrons and holes. > High visible light photocatalytic activity.

• OSTI ID: 21580216
• Journal Information: Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Solid State Chemistry Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 184; ISSN 0022-4596; ISSN JSSCBI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ABSORPTION
ALCOHOLS
BISMUTH COMPOUNDS
BISMUTH NITRATES
BISMUTH OXIDES
BISMUTH TUNGSTATES
CATALYSIS
CATALYSTS
CHALCOGENIDES
COHERENT SCATTERING
DIFFRACTION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
GLYCOLS
HETEROJUNCTIONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LEPTONS
MICROSCOPY
MICROSPHERES
NANOSTRUCTURES
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PHOTOCATALYSIS
PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
RADIATIONS
RECOMBINATION
REFRACTORY METAL COMPOUNDS
SCATTERING
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
SORPTION
SPECTROSCOPY
SUBSTRATES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
TUNGSTATES
TUNGSTEN COMPOUNDS
VISIBLE RADIATION
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY