Synthesis of reduced graphene oxide/α-Bi2Mo3O12 @ β-Bi2O3 heterojunctions by organic electrolytes assisted UV-excited method

• Efficient rGO/BMO@Bi2O3 heterojunctions were obtained by UV excitation firstly.
• PAA and gelatin succeeded in dispersing GO and as templates for nanobelts.
• Graphene oxides were reduced in situ by green UV excitation.
• A new thought for the design of graphene-based photocatalysts was proposed.

Reduced graphene oxide/α-Bi2Mo3O12@Bi2O3 heterojunction nanobelts (rGO/BMO@Bi2O3) were prepared by organic electrolyte-assisted UV-light excited method. Experimental results revealed that organic electrolytes facilitated the dispersion of graphene oxide (GO) and the formation of nanobelts. UV irradiation could reduce GO into rGO, and remove organic electrolytes in situ. Moreover, the morphology of α-Bi2Mo3O12 nanostructures was controlled by using ammonia and rGO. The resultant rGO/BMO@Bi2O3 nanobelts have proven to possess excellent photocatalytic activity for degrading rhodamine B (RhB) under simulated sunlight. The prepared technology will provide a new thought for the design of graphene-based photocatalysts.