title: Photocatalytic property of a Bi2O3 nanoparticle modified BiOCl composite with a nanolayered hierarchical structure synthesized by in situ reactions.
abstract: A Bi2O3 nanoparticle modified BiOCl composite was synthesized by a solvothermal method combined with in situ reduction and oxidation in KBH4 and H2O2 solutions respectively. The thickness of a BiOCl nanosheet and the amount of Bi2O3 nanoparticle can be adjusted by changing the KBH4 concentration. The structure, morphology, elemental composition and optical absorption performance were characterized by using an X-ray diffraction diffractometer, a scanning electron microscope, a high resolution transmission electron microscope, an X-ray photoelectron spectroscope and a UV-Vis diffuse reflection spectroscope respectively. A nanolayered hierarchical structure of BiOCl was observed, and Bi2O3 nanoparticles were found to be evenly distributed on the surface/interface of the nanosheets. The photocatalytic activity of the composite was tested by the degradation of 40 mg L(-1) methyl orange solution under UV light illumination. The Bi2O3/BiOCl composite prepared in a KBH4 concentration of 0.02 M achieved the highest photocatalytic rate of 95.7% in 8 min under UV light illumination with a kinetic constant of 0.3125 l min(-1). The photocatalytic mechanism of the composite has been discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Functional Nanomaterials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China. gqxu1979@hfut.edu.cn ycwu@hfut.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jiajia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Guangqing
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jinwen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Xinyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Zhixiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Yucheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001729:Bismuth / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000302:isolation & purification; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010782:Photolysis; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; C044685:bismuth oxychloride; C100258:methyl orange; C033301:bismuth oxide; D001729:Bismuth