Synthesis and Photocatalytic Performance of Bi12O17Cl2 Semiconductors Calcined at Different Temperatures

Abstract

In the current investigation a series of oxygen-rich bismuth oxychloride Bi12O17Cl2 samples through an ethylene glycol-solvothermal route were constructed at different calcination temperatures and fully characterized by X-ray diffraction patterns, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectra, X-ray energy dispersion spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectra. It was demonstrated that the calcination temperatures indeed had a crucial effect on the crystallinity, grain size, morphology, optical property, and charge carrier separation of Bi12O17Cl2 series. These Bi12O17Cl2 samples showed significantly improved photocatalytic degradation over dye Rhodamine B and colorless antibiotic tetracycline hydrochloride. Particularly, the best candidate, the sample 350 °C—Bi12O17Cl2 could show apparent reaction rate constants that were nearly 28.2, 1.2 times of N–TiO2 over Rhodamine B and tetracycline hydrochloride, respectively. The possible reason of enhancing photocatalytic performance by various Bi12O17Cl2 samples calcined at different temperatures was discussed and major oxidative radicals maybe generated during photocatalytic processes were detected.