The effects of Gd3+ doping on the physical structure and photocatalytic performance of Bi2MoO6 nanoplate crystals

• Gd3+ doped Bi2MoO6 nanoplate crystals were fabricated by solvothermal combined calcination method.
• Gd3+ doping caused a contraction of lattice and a decrease in crystallite size.
• Gd3+ doping could obviously enhance the visible light harvesting.
• Gd/Bi2MoO6 nanoplate crystals possess high photocatalytic activity and stability.

Gd3+ doped Bi2MoO6 nanoplate crystals were fabricated by solvothermal combined calcination method. The effects of Gd3+ doping with different concentrations on the texture, crystal and optical properties of Bi2MoO6 were investigated by N2 physical adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflection spectrum (UV–vis DRS), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Under simulated solar light irradiation, the influences of Gd3+doping on photocatalytic activity of Bi2MoO6 were evaluated by photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B. The characterization results showed that with Gd3+ doping, a contraction of lattice and a decrease in crystallite size occurred. Meanwhile, an increase in surface area over Gd3+ doped Bi2MoO6 was observed. Moreover, Gd3+ doping could obviously enhance the visible light harvesting of Bi2MoO6 and promoted the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. With optimum Gd3+(6 wt%) doping, Gd/Bi2MoO6 exhibited the best activity and stability in degradation of Rhodamine B.

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