Biomolecule-assisted route to obtain nanostructured bismuth oxybromide with enhanced photocatalytic activity

Using a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, we synthesized BiOBr powders, with and without, glycine or phenylalanine as templates. The samples were characterized by X-ray Diffraction, UV-Vis Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy, and Field Emission Gun Scanning Electron Microscopy. The XRD patterns were indexed to the tetragonal structure and presented very different intensities from each other, which is consistent with changes in the structural organization. The FEG-SEM images showed morphology alterations, from nanoplates for unmodified BiOBr to nanolamellae for BiOBr with phenylalanine (BOB-phe). The catalytic activity of BOB-phe degraded 98% of Rhodamine B dye in approximately 20 min, while the other BiOBr compounds presented slower degradation kinetics, which could be explained by a higher amount of active sites on BOB-phe surface. (C) 2020 SECV. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U.