Preparation, characterization and electrochemical behaviors of Bi2O3 nanoparticles dispersed in silica matrix

• We have prepared Bi2O3 nanoparticles dispersed in silica matrix by a modified low temperature Sol-Gel route.
• The band gaps of prepared samples were determined by DRS.
• The electronic characteristics of all samples were estimated using Mott-Schottky analysis.
• The differences between cyclic voltammmograms of both samples were interpreted in terms of above properties.

Nanostructured bismuth oxide was prepared in silica media by a modified sol-gel method using of tetraethylorthosilicate and hydrated bismuth nitrate. The calcination temperature was determined by thermal gravimetric analysis. The morphology, crystal and electronic structure of composites were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, XRD, scaning electron microscopy, SEM, transmission electron microscopy,TEM, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and Mott-Schottky analysis. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge and discharge curves were used to study the electrochemical and capacitive behaviors of dispersed Bi2O3 nanoparticles in silica matrix in 1.0 M NaOH. Our studies showed that by decreasing in the amount of Bi2O3 in nanocompsite, the normalized capacitance of bismuth oxide increases.

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