Mesoporous yolk-shell structure Bi2MoO6 microspheres with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity

Mesoporous yolk-shell structure Bi2MoO6 (BMO-YS) microspheres were successfully synthesized via a facile solvothermal route in Bi2MoO6 precursor solution. The morphology, structure and photocatalytic performance of the BMO-YS in the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectra, respectively. The as-prepared BMO-YS mainly consists of microspheres with diameters of about 1.5 μm. The photocatalytic studies reveal that the BMO-YS not only exhibits optimum photocatalytic performance, which may be attributed to the excellent charge separation characteristics and the enhanced light absorption offered by its unique yolk-shell structure, but also possesses excellent recyclability for photocatalysis.