title: Design and synthesis of multistructured three-dimensionally ordered macroporous composite bismuth oxide/zirconia: Photocatalytic degradation and hydrogen production.
abstract: Two types of three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) Bi2O3/ZrO2composites were prepared by the sol-gel method combined with the decompression filling method using polystyrene (PS) microspheres and EO20PO70EO20(P123) as the templates. The crystal structure, morphology, and surface physicochemical properties of Bi2O3/ZrO2composites were well characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and N2adsorption-desorption measurements. The results show that 3DOM Bi2O3/ZrO2composites possessed mixed crystal phases including the monoclinic bismuth oxide and mixed zirconia phases, and moreover exhibited a regular arrangement and pure tetragonal (or hexagonal) macroporous structure. Moreover, compared to Bi2O3/ZrO2, the specific surface areas of 3DOM Bi2O3/ZrO2composites were ca. 2.7-2.8 times. In addition, the properties of 3DOM Bi2O3/ZrO2composites with the tetragonal "fishing net" and hexagonal "honeycomb" structure were compared, and the relationship between the structure and activity of 3DOM Bi2O3/ZrO2composites was determined. The results show that in the UV photocatalytic degradation of pollutants and splitting of water into hydrogen using 3DOM Bi2O3/ZrO2composite, the tetragonal "fishing net" structure exhibited better activity than the hexagonal "honeycomb" structure. This can be attributed to different photocatalytic properties of the composites with different structures (tetragonal "fishing net" and hexagonal "honeycomb" structures).
authors.affiliation: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, PR China; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, PR China.
authors.forename: Xinyue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, PR China; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, PR China; College of Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, PR China. Electronic address: qqhrll@163.com.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, PR China.
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, PR China.
authors.forename: Hongxiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, PR China.
authors.forename: Changlong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
keywords: Bismuth oxide/zirconia; Photocatalysis; Polystyrene microspheres; Three-dimensionally ordered macroporous materials; Water splitting