title: A new photocatalyst: Bi2TiO4F2 nanoflakes synthesized by a hydrothermal method.
abstract: A pure phase of Bi(2)TiO(4)F(2) nanoflakes with layered Aurivillius structure are synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. The as-prepared sample is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The OH radicals produced during the photocatalytic reaction is detected by a photoluminescence (PL) technique. The electronic structure is investigated by DFT calculations. The photocatalytic properties of Bi(2)TiO(4)F(2) are explored by degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and phenol. The results show that Bi(2)TiO(4)F(2) exhibits much higher photocatalytic performances than Bi(4)Ti(3)O(12) due to the unique layered structure and the existence of F. F acts as an electron trapper, which enhances the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, and lead to higher photocatalytic activity. Reaction with terephthalic acid demonstrates that OH radicals are formed as a result of UV irradiation of Bi(4)TiO(4)F(2) in solution, in agreement with the proposed mechanism. Thus, Bi(2)TiO(4)F(2) can be used as a new efficient photocatalyst.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, PR China.
authors.forename: Shaoying
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Baibiao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Zeyan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Xiaoyang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dai
mesh_terms: D001729:Bismuth / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D005459:Fluorides / Q000737:chemistry*; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000737:chemistry; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D019800:Phenol / Q000737:chemistry; D010782:Photolysis; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000737:chemistry; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D012235:Rhodamines; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D019800:Phenol; C029773:rhodamine B; D005459:Fluorides; D001729:Bismuth