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, Vol. 184, Issue 8; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.jssc.2011.05.057; PII: S0022-4596(11)00306-9; Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; ISSN 0022-4596
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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