Hong SS

Vol. 25,  No. 2, pp. 123-128, Jun.  2019
10.7464/ksct.2019.25.2.121

Bi2MoO6 catalysts Hydrothermal method photocatalytic decomposition of Rhodamin B

PDF

Bi2MoO6 catalysts were successfully synthesized using ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME), glycerol (GL), ethylene glycol (EG), and water as solvents by a conventional hydrothermal method. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by XRD, DRS, BET, SEM, and PL, and we also investigated the photocatalytic activity of these materials for the decomposition of Rhodamin B under visible light irradiation. The XRD results revealed the successful synthesis of 12-18 nm, well-crystallized γ-Bi2MoO6 crystals with an Aurivillius structure regardless of solvent. In addition, the Bi2MoO6 catalysts prepared below 140 ℃ showed an amorphous phase; however, those prepared above 160 ℃ showed well-crystallized γ-Bi2MoO6 crystals. All the catalysts have a similar absorption spectrum from the ultraviolet region up to the visible region less than 470 nm. This result suggests that all the Bi2MoO6 catalysts are potential visible-light-driven photocatalysts. The Bi2MoO6 catalysts prepared using EGME as a solvent showed the highest photocatalytic activity. In addition, the Bi2MoO6 catalysts prepared at 180 ℃ showed the highest photocatalytic activity. The PL peaks appeared at about 560 nm at all catalysts and the excitonic PL signal was proportional to the photocatalytic activity for the decomposition of Rhodamin B. This suggests that the stronger the PL intensity, the larger the amount of oxygen vacancies and defects, and the higher the photocatalytic activity.