Fabrication of carbon microspheres@PbMoO4 core–shell hybrid structures and its visible light-induced photocatalytic activity

PbMoO4-coated carbon microspheres (CMSs@PbMoO4) were synthesized by a multistep method using CMSs as a support. In this synthesis dispersed CMSs were prepared by a hydrothermal method using glucose as a carbon source and used as an absorbent and support coated by PbMoO4 at room temperature. The as-prepared CMSs@PbMoO4 was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared sample was evaluated by degradation of Rhodamine B in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. The CMSs@PbMoO4 show effective photocatalytic activity. In addition, the photocatalytic mechanism of CMSs@PbMoO4 was proposed.

Carbon microspheres (CMSs) (a) prepared by a hydrothermal method were decorated with PbMoO4 nanoparticles to form CMSs@PbMoO4 core–shell hybrid structures (b). And the CMSs@PbMoO4 core–shell hybrid structures show an efficient photocatalytic activity toward RhB degradation under visible light (c), in which the absorption peaks at 553 nm corresponding to RhB diminished gradually without an absorption band shift to shorter wavelengths as the exposure time is added (d).Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Fabrication of PbMoO4-coated carbon microspheres (CMSs@PbMoO4) core–shell structures.
► CMSs@PbMoO4 shows photocatalytic activity to Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light.
► Carbon microspheres promote PbMoO4 performance toward RhB photodegradation.
► The main absorption peak to RhB without shift to shorter wavelength with time going.