Controllable fabrication of heterostructured Au/Bi2O3 with plasmon effect for efficient photodegradation of rhodamine 6G

Hong Hu,Changlong Xiao,Xiaocheng Lin,Kun Chen,Haitao Li,Xinyi Zhang

doi:10.1080/17458080.2016.1255790

Hong Hu, Changlong Xiao + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1080/17458080.2016.1255790

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Abstract

ABSTRACTThree-dimensional (BiO)2CO3 (BSC) nanostructures were synthesised by a hydrothermal reaction, and Bi2O3 nanoparticles were then obtained by calcining BSC precursor at different temperatures. BSC and Bi2O3 samples were then sputtering coated with Au to get the resultant Au/BSC and Au/Bi2O3 for the investigation of the effect of the Au coating on the photocatalytic performance of the samples. The phase structure, morphology and composition of the samples were characterised by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra were used to measure the response of different catalysts to UV–vis light. The photocatalytic activity was investigated for the degradation of rhodamine 6G at room temperature and the light intensity was 1 sun. Bi2O3 exhibited better photocatalytic performance than BSC due to the narrow band gap of Bi2O3, and the coating of Au also endowed the samples with higher photocatalytic capability as compared to the bare one.

Highlights

Problems with water are expected to grow worse with the society development and have attracted worldwide attention
For the sample calcined at 300 C, a series of new diffraction peaks can be observed at 2u D 16.7, 19.7, 28.6, 33.2, 46.3 and 58.4, which can be ascribed to the monocline b-Bi2O3 (JCPDS 78-1793)
Sample calcined at 350 C was chosen for the photodegradation study, because most of the b-phase Bi2O3 can be obtained at this calcination temperature

Summary

Introduction

Problems with water are expected to grow worse with the society development and have attracted worldwide attention. A great quantity of dyes are used in the manufacturing processes of the textile industries and dying industries, which will lead to the discharging of the dye wastewater with high concentration (»50 wt%) into the environment. Of note, such toxic dye wastewater is normally non-biodegradable and potentially carcinogenic and gives rise to various environmental crises [2]. BSC showed poor photocatalytic efficiency and its application in the dye degradation is limited. The photocatalytic activity was examined for the degradation of rhodamine 6G (R6G) as typical dye

Synthesis of flower-like BSC nanocrystals and heterostructured Bi2O3

Characterisation

Photocatalytic test for dye degradation

Results and discussion

Conclusion