Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic properties of nanoplate Bi2MoO6 catalysts

Bismuth molybdate (Bi2MoO6) nanoplates have been successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal process. The nanoplates were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, and IR spectroscopy. The effects of hydrothermal temperature and reaction time on the structures and morphologies of the nanoplates were investigated. On the basis of TEM observation of time series samples, a possible formation mechanism of the nanoplates was proposed. Optical absorption experiments revealed that Bi2MoO6 nanoplates had absorption in visible-light region, but a blue shift appeared compared with the corresponding bulk materials. Photocatalytic experiments showed that the nanoplates exhibited good photocatalytic activities for degradation of N,N,N',N'-tetraethylated rhodamine (RhB) under visible- light irradiation (lambda > 420 nm).