Abstract
Sb4O5Cl2 hollow microspheres with self-narrowed bandgap and optimized photocatalytic performances are synthesized via a facile template-free method. It is found that the crystal structure and morphology of Sb4O5Cl2 crystallites are strongly dependent on the pH values of precursors. Nano-sized irregular-cuboids assembled Sb4O5Cl2 micro-particles and hollow microspheres can be synthesized at pH 1 and 2, whereas individual Sb4O5Cl2 micro-belts become to form when the pH is higher than 3. The irregular-cuboids assembled Sb4O5Cl2 micro-particles and hollow microspheres exhibit self-narrowed bandgap and higher light absorption ability compared with individual Sb4O5Cl2 micro-belts. The photoelectrochemical measurements show that the assembled Sb4O5Cl2 hollow microsphere crystallites prepared at pH 2 exhibit enhanced carrier density, improved separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs and decreased electron-transfer resistance. As a result, the irregular-cuboids assembled Sb4O5Cl2 hollow microspheres prepared at pH = 2 exhibit the highest photocatalytic activity for the degradation of gaseous iso-propanol (IPA) and Rhodamine B (RhB) aqueous solution. The good photocatalytic activity of Sb4O5Cl2 sample prepared at pH = 2 may be caused by the synergistic effect of its higher light absorption, the decreased electron-transfer resistance, the suppressed recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes, and the increased surface area.
Highlights
Sb4O5Cl2 hollow microspheres with self-narrowed bandgap and optimized photocatalytic performances are synthesized via a facile template-free method
We report a facile template-free method for the synthesis of hollow microspheres assembled by Sb4O5Cl2 nanoparticles
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution TEM characterization on Sb4O5Cl2 sample prepared at pH = 2 in Fig. 3(a–c) are carried out to investigate the nanoparticle assemblies
Summary
Sb4O5Cl2 hollow microspheres with self-narrowed bandgap and optimized photocatalytic performances are synthesized via a facile template-free method. The irregular-cuboids assembled Sb4O5Cl2 micro-particles and hollow microspheres exhibit selfnarrowed bandgap and higher light absorption ability compared with individual Sb4O5Cl2 micro-belts. The photoelectrochemical measurements show that the assembled Sb4O5Cl2 hollow microsphere crystallites prepared at pH 2 exhibit enhanced carrier density, improved separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs and decreased electron-transfer resistance. Doping operation usually requires complex preparation process and special conditions, which is difficult to be realized in some cases[17] As another effective strategy to narrow the bandgap of semiconductors, the electronic coupling strategy has www.nature.com/scientificreports/. The electronic coupling of interfacial cation-cation pairs can bring about self-narrowed bandgap and some desirable and novel properties to the assembly of semiconductors nanoparticles compared with individual particles as well as bulk materials. Some works have been done on Sb4O5Cl2, rarely has been reported on its electronic structure, photoelectrochemical properties and photocatalytic performance
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