title: Enhanced photocatalytic performance of boron doped Bi₂WO₆ nanosheets under simulated solar light irradiation.
abstract: Bi₂WO6 doped with different amounts of boron atoms (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0 and 10% B) were synthesized using hydrothermal method and their photocatalytic activities to degrade rhodamine B (RhB) under simulated solar light was investigated. The successful incorporation of B atoms in Bi₂WO₆ was proved by FT-IR, Raman spectra and XPS. Doping with B could affect the pore structure and volume. 0.5% B/Bi₂WO₆ displayed more mesopores with higher total pore volume than pure Bi₂W₆; while the pores of 10% B/Bi₂WO₆ mainly distributed in microporous range with much less total pore volume. As a result, 0.5% B/Bi₂WO₆ displayed stronger adsorption capacity to RhB, favoring the photodegradation. In addition, the doped B atoms could act as electron traps and facilitate the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs due to its electron deficient and oxytropic characteristics. 0.5% B/Bi₂WO₆ displayed the highest photocatalytic activity under simulated solar light with rate constant (kobs) 8.8 times of that using pure Bi₂WO₆. Its photoactivity was affected by solution pH and the optimum was achieved at pH 7. At this condition, around 100% of RhB (10(-5)mol/L) was degraded in 180 min. The photogenerated holes were the main active species responsible for the photodegradation of RhB by B/Bi₂WO₆.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China.
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaolong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China. Electronic address: zhuly@nankai.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Lingyan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D048908:Aliivibrio fischeri / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001729:Bismuth / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D001895:Boron / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D049449:Luminescence; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D010782:Photolysis; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D013472:Sunlight; D014414:Tungsten / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D010087:Oxides; D012235:Rhodamines; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C029773:rhodamine B; D001895:Boron; D001729:Bismuth; D014414:Tungsten