In situ synthesis of Bi2O3/Bi2MoO6 heterostructured microspheres for efficiently removal of acid orange 7

Abstract

Flower-like Bi2O3/Bi2MoO6 heterostructured microspheres with excellent photocatalytic performance were successfully constructed by in situ ion exchange and calcination, employing Bi2MoO6 microspheres prepared by solvothermal method as raw material and template. Various characterization techniques including XRD, FE-SEM, EDS, UV–vis DRS and XPS have been adopted to analyze the composition, structure and optical absorption property of the obtained sample. Their photocatalytic properties for degrading acid orange 7 (AO7) were investigated with visible light. Experimental results show that all Bi2O3/Bi2MoO6 composites have a higher catalytic activities than pure Bi2MoO6. Remarkably, 0.2Bi2O3/Bi2MoO6 show best activity and the degradation efficiency is up to 99% under visible light for 100 min, which is ascribed to the synergistic effect and big heterojunction interface, and promoting rapid transmission of photogenerated charge. Moreover, There is negligible reduction on the degradation efficiency after catalysts was reused for 4 times. The photogenerated holes (h+) and superoxide radical anions (•O2-) were major active species by radical scavenger experiments. A possible mechanism is proposed to explain rationally enhancement of photocatalytic activity.