Fabrication of one-dimensional Bi2O3–Bi14MoO24heterojunction photocatalysts with high interface quality

Abstract

Novel, one-dimensional Bi2O3–Bi14MoO24 heterostructures with high interface quality were synthesized by high temperature calcination of Bi2MoO6–Bi(OHC2O4)·2H2O precursors in air at 400 °C for 2 h. Bi14MoO24 grew on the Bi2O3 porous rods by crystallographic-oriented epitaxial growth, which increased the interface quality and then provided the smallest penetration barrier for electron–hole pair transfer between Bi2O3–Bi14MoO24 interfaces. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared products was evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange (MO) and phenol under solar/visible light irradiation. The results show that Bi2O3–Bi14MoO24 heterostructures display higher photocatalytic activity than that of the pure phase Bi2O3 and Bi14MoO24, and 100% phenol (10 mg L−1) can be degraded in 80 min under visible light irradiation using the Bi2O3–Bi14MoO24 (DS-2) heterostructure as photocatalyst. This enhanced photocatalytic performance is ascribed to the synergistic effect of the suitable band alignment of the Bi2O3 and Bi14MoO24, high interface quality and one-dimensionally ordered nanostructure. Radical scavenger experiments proved that the photogenerated holes and ˙O2− play key roles during the photodegradation process. This work offers an effective route to the design and fabrication of the junction structures with high interface quality for photocatalytic applications.