Synthesis of PbMoO4 Using a Facile Surfactant-assisted Hydrothermal Method and Their Photocatalytic Activity

Lead molybdate (PbMoO4) was successfully synthesized using a facile surfactant-assisted hydrothermal process and characterized by XRD, Raman, TEM, PL, BET and DRS. We also investigated the photocatalytic activity of these materials for the decomposition of Rhodamine B under UV-light irradiation. From XRD and Raman results, well-crystallized PbMoO4 crystals were successfully synthesized with the particle size of 52-69 nm. PbMoO4 catalysts prepared in the presence of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) enhanced the photocatalytic activity compared to that of using P-25 and pure PbMoO4 catalysts. The maximum photocatalytic activity of PbMoO4 catalyst were observed when preparing it in pH 9 solution. The The PL peak at about 540 nm were observed for all catalysts and the excitonic PL signal increased proportionally with respect to the photocatalytic activity of Rhodamine B.