Facile preparation of Bi2MoO6/multi-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposite for enhancing photocatalytic performance

• Bi2MoO6/MWCNT was successfully synthesized by hydrothermal process.
• Bi2MoO6/MWCNT showed efficient visible light photocatalytic activity.
• Degradation pathways of MB by Bi2MoO6/MWCNTs were proposed.

In this work, Bi2MoO6/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) hybrid was prepared through a facile hydrothermal process. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms were used to investigate the morphology, crystal structure, optical properties and specific surface area of Bi2MoO6/MWCNT nanocomposite. It was shown that Bi2MoO6 nanoparticles were well-deposited on the outer surface of Bi2MoO6/MWCNT. Photocatalytic properties of as-prepared photocatalysts were investigated under 410 nm LED light irradiation for photodegradation of methylene blue. The corresponding the apparent pseudo-first-order rate constant kapp of Bi2MoO6/MWCNT is 0.087 min−1, which is 4.4 times and 17.4 times more than that of pure Bi2MoO6 and P25 photocatalyst, respectively. Moreover, photodegradation mechanism of Bi2MoO6/MWCNT was provided.

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