Hydrothermal synthesis of well-distributed spherical CuBi2O4 with enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation

The well-distributed spherical CuBi2O4 was synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method, and its surface is comprised of nanometer quadrilateral plates. The properties of the samples were systematically characterized by SEM/HRTEM, XRD, EDS, XPS, and UV-vis. Photocatalytic experiments indicated that the CuBi2O4 showed enhanced photocatalytic activity toward diclofenac (DCF) degradation by comparison with that of the blank irradiation system without any catalysts. Additionally, the free radical capture experiments in both of the CuBi2O4/visible light system and blank irradiation system were conducted, and photolysis mechanisms of these two systems were also proposed.