BiPO{sub 4}/BiOBr p–n junction photocatalysts: One-pot synthesis and dramatic visible light photocatalytic activity

Journal Article · Sun Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2014.12.020· OSTI ID:22420841

Wu, Bian Tao ^[1]; Niu, Ji Nan; Feng, Pei Zhong; Zhu, Ya Bo ^[2]

---

1. School of Information and Electrical Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116 (China)
2. School of Material Science and Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116 (China)

Highlights: • BiPO{sub 4}/BiOBr p–n junction photocatalysts were synthesized by a solvothermal method. • BiPO{sub 4}/BiOBr composites were constructed by inlaying BiPO{sub 4} particles into BiOBr microspheres. • BiPO{sub 4}/BiOBr photocatalysts exhibited the enhanced photocatalytic activity. • ·O{sub 2}{sup −} and h{sup +} were the main active species responsible for the degradation of RhB. - Abstract: BiPO{sub 4}/BiOBr p–n junction photocatalysts were successfully synthesized via a facile one-pot solvothermal method. The products were characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, HRTEM, XPS, DRS, PL and EIS. The obtained BiPO{sub 4}/BiOBr composites were constructed by inlaying BiPO{sub 4} nanoparticles into BiOBr hierarchical microspheres. Compared with BiPO{sub 4} and BiOBr, they exhibited significantly enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB). Among them, 10% BiPO{sub 4}/BiOBr showed the maximum value of the activity, whose degradation rate was about three times higher than that of pure BiOBr. The enhanced photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the formation of the BiPO{sub 4}/BiOBr p–n junction, which resulted in the effective separation and transfer of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. Moreover, the trapping experiments confirmed that ·O{sub 2}{sup −} and h{sup +} were the main active species responsible for the degradation of RhB.

• OSTI ID: 22420841
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 63; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
BISMUTH PHOSPHATES
BROMINE OXIDES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
ELECTRONS
HOLES
MICROSPHERES
NANOPARTICLES
PHOTOCATALYSIS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
SYNTHESIS
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
TRAPPING
VISIBLE RADIATION
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY