Mass production and photocatalytic activity of highly crystalline metastable single-phase Bi₂₀TiO₃₂ nanosheets.
Highly crystalline metastable bismuth titanate (Bi₂₀TiO₃₂) nanosheets are prepared via a simple green wet chemical route for the first time. The Bi₂₀TiO₃₂)photocatalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive spectrum analysis (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N₂ adsorption-desorption (BET), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). Inspiringly, Bi₂₀TiO₃₂ nanosheets showed high photocatalytic activity for the degradation of nonbiodegradable azo dye under simulated sunlight and visible-light irradiation. The experimental results showed that the photocatalytic activity of the Bi₂₀TiO₃₂ nanosheets was superior to the commercial Degussa P25 TiO₂, and demonstrated that the morphology and crystal structure have a distinct effect on the photocatalytic activity. The reasons for the high photocatalytic activity and the formation mechanism of Bi₂₀TiO₃₂ nanosheets are also discussed.
Key Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials Science of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission & Ministry of Education, Hubei Province, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, 430074, People's Republic of China.
Tengfei
T
Zhou
Juncheng
J
Hu
D019905:Benzyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry; D001729:Bismuth / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D003460:Crystallization; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D015394:Molecular Structure; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010782:Photolysis; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014508:Urea / Q000737:chemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D004396:Coloring Agents; C550183:bismuth titanate; D014508:Urea; D014025:Titanium; D019905:Benzyl Alcohol; D001729:Bismuth