Microwave-assisted synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic performance of Bi2O2CO3 nanoplates

Abstract

In this research, Bi2O2CO3 (BOC) nanoplates as a semiconductor-based photocatalyst composed of [Bi2O2] 2+ configuration layers were used for environmental treatment. Highly crystalline and pure phase of BOC nanoplates were successfully synthesized by a microwave-assisted method. Effect of irradiation time and microwave heating power on phase, purity, crystallinity, particle size and morphology of the assynthesized products was investigated. The as-synthesized BOC nanoplates were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy. Upon increasing microwave heating power, purity and crystallinity of the as-synthesized products were improved. Due to the existence of double internal electric field, the separation of photo-induced charged carriers was enhanced, leading to promote photocatalytic activity of the BOC nanoplates in degrading of methyl orange (MO) under UV radiation. The highest photocatalytic performance was achieved by 2 using the BOC nanoplates synthesized by 600 W microwave for 60 min. A formation mechanism of BOC nanoplates was also proposed and discussed according to the experimental results.

Template-free synthesis of Bi2O2CO3 hierarchical nanotubes self-assembled from ordered nanoplates for promising photocatalytic applications

“…7(c), the PL spectra (measured at an excitation wavelength 340 nm) demonstrate clear broad PL emission peaks at around 350–600 nm, which originate from the electron–hole recombination behavior. 56 The observation of the lowest PL emission peaks for the 3h-BOC sample implies that it exhibits the lowest recombination rate of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. The photocurrent response, EIS and PL analyses suggest that the most efficient generation and photocatalytic utilization of photogenerated carriers is achieved in the 3h-BOC sample, suggesting that it possesses the highest photocatalytic activity.…”