In situ preparation of g-C3N4/Bi4O5I2 complex and its elevated photoactivity in Methyl Orange degradation under visible light

A graphite carbon nitride(g-C3N4)modified Bi4O5I2 composite was successfully prepared insitu via the thermal treatment of a g-C3N4/Bi OI precursor at 400°C for 3 hr.The as-prepared g-C3N4/Bi4O5I2 showed high photocatalytic performance in Methyl Orange(MO)degradation under visible light.The best sample presented a degradation rate of 0.164 min^-1,which is 3.2 and 82 times as high as that of Bi4O5I2 and g-C3N4,respectively.The g-C3N4/Bi4O5I2 was characterized by X-ray powder diffractometer(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),Raman,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectra(DRS),electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS)and transient photocurrent response in order to explain the enhanced photoactivity.Results indicated that the decoration with a small amount of g-C3N4 influenced the specific surface area only slightly.Nevertheless,the capability for absorbing visible light was improved measurably,which was beneficial to the MO degradation.On top of that,a strong interaction between g-C3N4 and Bi4O5I2 was detected.This interplay promoted the formation of a favorable heterojunction structure and thereby enhanced the charge separation.Thus,the g-C3N4/Bi4O5I2 composite presented greater charge separation efficiency and much better photocatalytic performance than Bi4O5I2.Additionally,g-C3N4/Bi4O5I2 also presented high stability.·O2^- and holes were verified to be the main reactive species.

Hydrothermal fabrication and visible-light-driven photocatalytic properties of bismuth vanadate with multiple morphologies and/or porous structures for Methyl Orange degradation

Monoclinic BiVO4 with multiple morphologies and/or porous structures were fabricated using the hydrothermal strategy. The materials were characterized by means of the XRD, Raman, TGA/DSC, SEM, XPS, and UV-Vis techniques. The photocatalytic activities of the BiVO4 materials were evaluated for the degradation of Methyl Orange under visible-light irradiation. It is observed that pH value and surfactant exerted a great effect on the morphology and pore structure of the BiVO4 product. Spherical BiVO4 with porous structures, flower-cluster-like BiVO4, and flower-bundle-like BiVO4 were generated hydrothermally at 100°C with poly（vinyl pyrrolidone） （PVP） and urea （pH = 2） and at 160°C with NaHCO3 （pH = 7 and 8）, respectively. The PVP-derived BiVO4 showed much higher surface areas （5.0-8.4 m2/g） and narrower bandgap energies （2.45-2.49 eV）. The best photocatalytic performance of the spherical BiVO4 material with a surface area of 8.4 m2/g was associated with its higher surface area, narrower bandgap energy, higher surface oxygen vacancy density, and unique porous architecture.

Pt/Bi_(24)O_(31)Cl_(10) composite nanosheets with significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation

Efficient composite semiconductor photocatalysts are highly desirable for the visible-light-driven degradation of organic pollutants. In this study, Bi24O31Cl10 photocatalyst was prepared via a hydrothermal method and modified with Pt nanoparticles (NPs) through a facile deposition procedure. The composite photocatalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electronic microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-vis diffusion reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and electron spin resonance. The 1.0 wt% Pt/Bi24O31Cl10 photocatalyst showed the highest activity for the degradation of methyl orange under visible light (source: 300 W Xe lamp coupled with a UV-cutoff filter), and the photocatalytic degradation efficiency improved about 2.2 times compared to that of pure Bi24O31Cl10. The composite photocatalyst could maintain most of its activity after four runs of the photocatalytic experimental cycle. This study could provide a novel insight for the modification of other desirable semiconductor materials to achieve high photocatalytic activities.

Two-Step Anodization of Maltilayer TiO_2 Nanotube and Its Photocatalytic Activity under UV Light

A double-layer TiO2 nanotube arrays were formed by two-step anodization of Ti foils in different electrolytes. First, Ti in 0.5 wt% HF was anodized to form thin nanotube layer. Afterwards a second anodization was conducted in a formamide based electrolyte, which allowed the second layer of nanotube growing directly underneath the first one. From FESEM investigation we found that the thickness of second layer corresponded to the anodization time, the increasing of which would lead to the excessive etching on the first layer. The first layer protected the lower one from fluoride corrosion during anodization process. The double layer TiO2 nanotube arrays showed no benefit to photodegradation effect in methyl orange degradation experiments.