High photocatalytic activity of lanthanum doped Bi2MoO6 nanosheets with exposed (0 0 1) facets

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics Vol. 29; no. 10; pp. 8617 - 8629
• Main Authors: Zhang, Pan, Yi, Yunan, Yu, Chuxuan, Li, Wei, Liao, Peisi, Tian, Renwei, Zhou, Mei, Zhou, Yifan, Li, Bin, Fan, Minguang, Dong, Lihui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.05.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalytic activity; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Degradation; Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy; Electron microscopy; Electrons; Emission spectra; Field emission microscopy; Hydrothermal crystal growth; Lanthanum; Materials Science; Nanosheets; Optical and Electronic Materials; Photocatalysis; Photoluminescence; Scanning electron microscopy; Spectrum analysis; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-018-8876-8

Bi 2 MoO 6 nanosheets with the different lanthanum contents were prepared by the facile hydrothermal method. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area, UV–Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and photoluminescence emission spectra. Results indicated that Bi 2 MoO 6 nanosheets selectively exposed (0 0 1) facets as the main external surfaces with the manifold of La content. When the molar ratio of La:Bi is 0.5%, the obtained Bi 2 MoO 6 sample exhibited the highest catalytic performance for RhB degradation under the visible light, which can be attributed to the synergic effect of optimum bandgap and the effectively separation of photogenerated electron–hole. The possible photolytic degradation mechanism was further discussed and the photogenerated holes (h + ) was found to be the major active species.