Synthesis of room temperature bismuth oxide and its photocatalytic activity

• Published in: Materials letters Vol. 86; pp. 25 - 27
• Main Authors: Iyyapushpam, S., Nishanthi, S.T., Pathinettam Padiyan, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.11.2012
• Subjects: annealing; bismuth; decolorization; heat treatment; methyl orange; Monoclinic Bi2O3; Nanocrystalline materials; Photocatalytic degradation; photolysis; scanning electron microscopes; Structural; temperature; X-ray diffraction; X-ray diffraction; Photocatalytic degradation; Monoclinic Bi2O3; Nanocrystalline materials; Structural
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2012.07.015

A simple room temperature chemical route is selected for the preparation of phase pure bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) without applying any post heat treatment. The phase pure form of Bi2O3 is confirmed from X-ray diffraction. The surface morphology of the powder is observed by a scanning electron microscope and it reveals that the powder consists of agglomerates. The photocatalytic activity of Bi2O3 is evaluated by photocatalytic decolorization of methyl orange aqueous solution for 2h. The crystallite size dependence of degradation is confirmed by annealing the sample at two different temperatures (200 and 600°C) for 2h. The photocatalytic degradation property of Bi2O3 varies with the crystallite size. The degradation percentage of MeO using Bi2O3 as catalyst are 76%, 52% and 24% for the as-prepared and the annealed sample at 200 and 600°C respectively. ► Synthesis of single phase bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) without applying any heat treatment. ► Removal of environmental pollutants using phase pure Bi2O3 through photocatalyst reaction. ► Crystallite size plays a vital role in deciding the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange using Bi2O3 as catalyst.