Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic activity evaluation of NaBiO3·2H2O and NaBiO3·xH2O nanosheets

• NaBiO3·2H2O and NaBiO3·xH2O were synthesized, respectively.
• The photocatalytic activity of NaBiO3·2H2O is higher than that of NaBiO3·xH2O.
• NaBiO3·2H2O has a large surface area and broad absorption wavelength range.
• O2− and OH were proved to be the dominant reactive species for the photocatalysts.

In this paper, NaBiO3·2H2O and NaBiO3·xH2O photocatalysts were synthesized by oxidation technique and hydrothermal method, respectively. The microstructure and properties of the photocatalysts were characterized in detail. The photocatalytic activity of the photocatalysts was investigated by photocatalytic oxidation of Rhodamine B under visible light illumination. The results showed that the photocatalytic activity of NaBiO3·2H2O is higher than that of NaBiO3·xH2O. Compared with NaBiO3·xH2O, the absorption wavelength range of NaBiO3·2H2O is extended about 40 nm towards visible light. The appearance of NaBiO3·2H2O is flower-like aggregates with some loose bulk nanosheets, and NaBiO3·xH2O is composed of 2 dimensional hexagon nanosheets. O2− and OH were proved to be the dominant reactive species in the photocatalytic reactions of NaBiO3·2H2O and NaBiO3·xH2O. The mechanisms of the influence on the photocatalytic activity were also discussed.

The appearance of NaBiO3·2H2O is flower-like aggregates with some loose bulk nanosheets. The NaBiO3·xH2O sample is composed of 2 dimensional hexagon nanosheets with 90 nm in thickness and an average 700–800 nm in width. The morphology and microstructure of the NaBiO3·2H2O and NaBiO3·xH2O are different. In the process of phase transformation from NaBiO3·2H2O to NaBiO3·xH2O, the structure of the sample is restructured.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide