Hexagonal hollow microtubes incorporated Bi2S3-quantum-dots for catalytic degradation of dyes

•Hexagonal hollow microtubes were produced through a thermal annealing process.•Bi2S3 quantum dots can be incorporated in walls of the microtubes.•Microtubes incorporated Bi2S3 quantum dots show excellent fluorescent property.•Microtubes incorporated Bi2S3 quantum dots show catalytic property.

In this paper, hexagonal hollow microtubes were easily produced through a thermal annealing process from the mixtures in aqueous solution of cholic acid (CA) and a zwitterionic surfactant tetradecyldimethylamine oxide (C14DMAO). The walls of the microtubes can solubilize rhodamine 6G and fluorescein, showing excellent fluorescence properties. The microtubes incorporated Bi2S3 quantum dots also show excellent fluorescence property and catalytic performance for degradation of dye pollutants. The microtubes incorporated Bi2S3 quantum dots can be used recycles. Typically, after recycling eight times, the degradation percentage of the dye pollutants can reach 77%. This opens a tried-and-true avenue for producing powerful nano- and microtube materials based on combinations of surfactants and convenient self-assembly strategies and can be applied in catalytic degradation of dyes-containing wastewater.

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