Hydrothermal synthesis and crystal structure of a fluorite-type Pb0.35Bi0.65O1.59 compound with photocatalytic activity

Abstract

A fluorite-type compound, Pb0.35Bi0.65O1.59, was synthesized by a hydrothermal reaction. The crystal structure of the compound was refined using synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data; the cubic cell dimensions were a = 5.4864 (1) Å and the space group was Fm3-m (No. 225). The final R-factors were Rwp = 5.76% and Rp = 4.36%. The band gap of this compound was estimated to be 0.98 eV from the UV–vis spectrum. This compound comprised mixed-valence states Bi3+ and Bi5+ with an average Bi valence of 3.83. This compound exhibited photocatalytic activity for phenol degradation and was thermally stable up to 380 °C.