PVP assisted hydrothermal synthesis of BiOBr hierarchical nanostructures and high photocatalytic capacity

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Vol. 222; pp. 120 - 127
• Main Authors: Shi, Xiaojing, Chen, Xin, Chen, Xiliang, Zhou, Shaomin, Lou, Shiyun, Wang, Yongqiang, Yuan, Lin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.04.2013
• Subjects: Bismuth oxybromide; chemical engineering; Energy gaps (solid state); Hierarchical nanostructure; Hydrothermal synthesis; irradiation; methyl orange; Morphology; N-type semiconductors; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; particle size; Photocatalysis; Photocatalytic activity; photolysis; Planes; PVP; pyrrolidones; semiconductors; Photocatalytic activity; Bismuth oxybromide; Hydrothermal synthesis; PVP; Hierarchical nanostructure
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2013.02.034

► BiOBr porous hierarchical nanostructures have been synthesized with PVP assisted. ► The different morphologies of BiOBr samples can be well controlled. ► As-prepared samples have high visible light (λ⩾420nm) photocatalytic properties. ► The solvothermal is facile, low energy consumption and reproducible. Controlled BiOBr hierarchical nanostructures (HNs) have been fabricated by a polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) assisted hydrothermal method. The as-synthesized samples have a tetragonal phase and are composed of primary plate-like nanostructures with a thickness from 10 to 300nm. Hall Effect displays the new material is N-type semiconductor. The possible reaction and growth mechanism is also discussed based on contradistinctive experimental results. Concentration of PVP in the reaction mixture plays a key role for controllable structures and morphologies because PVP can attach on the (012) plane of the BiOBr HNs selectively and insulate the growth of this plane. In addition, PVP is used to manipulate the band gaps of products. The as-prepared BiOBr HNs possess narrow band gaps (1.75–2.5eV), large surface areas, and uniform particle size. Moreover, photocatalytic degradation efficiencies of methyl orange (MO) of BiOBr samples are detected and the as-obtained results show an excellent photocatalytic capacity of BiOBr HNs under irradiation of visible light (λ⩾420nm).