Preparation of bismuth oxide/titania composite particles and their photocatalytic activity to degradation of 4-chlorophenol

Bismuth oxide/titania, one interfacial composite semiconductor with high photocatalytic activity under solar light, was prepared at low temperature. The structure was characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), brunauer-emmett-teller (BET), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and diffuse reflection spectra (DRS). The results indicate that deposited titania nanoparticles on bismuth oxide surface have micro-nano structure, and this composite material exhibits porosity and increased surface hydroxyl groups. Furthermore, the as-prepared photocatalyst shows higher photocatalytic activity to the degradation of 4-chlorophenol than pure titania or P25 under sunlight.