Synthesis,structural characterization,and photocatalytic activity of Bi‐based nanoparticles

Bi‐based nanoparticles were successfully synthesized (500°C/2 h) following two intermediate‐temperature routes, Pechini and a combined method of mechanical milling/molten salts. Herein, α‐Bi₂O₃/Bi₂O₂CO₃ heterostructures were identified. These types of heterostructures have shown advantages to improve the visible light responsive activity of Bi‐based nanoparticles to facilitate the separation of photogenerated electron‐hole pairs. By fixing the experimental parameters, the synthesis route and Ag contents showed to play a very important role in the phase composition of the Ag‐containing samples; the formation of Bi/Ag‐Bi₂O₃/Bi₂O₂CO₃ and Ag/Ag‐Bi₂O₃/Bi₂O₂CO₃ complex hybrid structures were revealed. The α‐Bi₂O₃/Bi₂O₂CO₃ heterostructure prepared by combined method exhibited higher photocatalytic efficiency (66.84%) for degrading methylene blue (MB) depending on Bi₂O₂CO₃ component proportion. For the Ag‐containing hybrid structures, the performance of their catalytic activity did not show an increase with respect to α‐Bi₂O₃/Bi₂O₂CO₃. However, in these samples, the degradation efficiency was slightly enhanced with the efficient doping of Ag into the α‐Bi₂O₃ structure and the existence of Bi when the Pechini method was used. Also, a possible photocatalytic process for degrading MB is presented.