Surface, optical characteristics and photocatalytic ability of Scheelite-type monoclinic Bi3FeMo2O12 nanoparticles

Bi3FeMo2O12 nanoparticles with the Scheelite-type monoclinic structure were prepared by the Pechini synthesis. The Bi3FeMo2O12 nanoparticle has a size of about 50 nm. The phase formation and structural characteristic were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and Rietveld refinements. The Scheelite framework is characterized by a superstructure constructed by the ordered arrangement of Fe/Mo tetrahedral on the B sites. The surface characteristics of Bi3FeMo2O12 nanoparticles were studied by the measurements such as the scanning electron microscope (SEM), the transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the N2-adsorption-desorption isotherm. Bi3FeMo2O12 nanoparticles present an efficient optical absorption in a wide wavelength region from UV to 540 nm. The band gap energy was decided to be 2.3 eV and characterized by a direct allowed electronic optical transition. The photocatalytic activity of Bi3FeMo2O12 nanoparticles was confirmed by the photodegradation of the rhodamine B (RhB) dye solution. The experiments indicate that the Scheelite-type molybdate could be a potential candidate of a visible-light-driven photocatalyst.