Enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance of Sb-doped (BiO)2CO3 nanoplates

• Sb-doped (BiO)2CO3 nanoplates were prepared via a facile hydrothermal method.
• Sb-doped samples exhibit improved visible-light-induced photocatalytic activity.
• The photodegradation proceeded through a photosensitization pathway.
• Sb doping can enhance electron transfer rate of (BiO)2CO3 nanoplates.

Sb-doped (BiO)2CO3 nanoplates have been successfully fabricated via a facile hydrothermal method. XRD patterns, XPS spectra, SEM and TEM images demonstrated that doping with antimony (Sb) has no effect on the crystal phase, morphology and structure of (BiO)2CO3 nanoplates. However, the red shift of diffraction peak in the 2θ range of 29–32° was observed, which could be attributed to the substitution of larger radius of Bi atoms by lower radius of Sb atoms resulting in the decrease of lattice parameters. The photocatalytic performance of Sb-doped (BiO)2CO3 nanoplates was evaluated by the degradation of RhB upon visible light irradiation. It was found that the visible-light-induced photocatalytic activity of Sb-doped (BiO)2CO3 nanoplates was significantly improved, which was mainly attributed to its enhanced surface area and electron transfer rate. It was proposed that RhB photodegradation proceeded through a photosensitization pathway upon visible light irradiation.