Abstract
The pure-phase BiFeO3 crystals with distinguished micro-morphologies were successfully prepared by a novel coprecipitation-hydrothermal collaborative synthesis method. Hydroxylation technique was innovatively employed to hydroxylate BiFeO3 samples. XPS and PL spectra proved that hydroxylation treatment indeed introduced more ·OH radicals on the surfaces of the BiFeO3 samples. Sample E (hydroxylated BiFeO3 ultra-thin slices) showed the highest photocatalytic activity. Hydroxylated BiFeO3 prepared in this work also showed high activities in water photo-oxidation reactions for producing oxygen gas. All hydroxylated samples showed notably enhanced photocatalytic activities due to the large specific surface areas, strong visible light responses, diminished recombination rates of the photo-excited carriers and excess ·OH radicals introduced by surface hydroxylation. All BiFeO3 samples showed good photochemical stabilities for reusage. This work provides valuable contributions in the future preparations and applications for BiFeO3 photocatalysts.
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