Bi5FeTi3O15 Hierarchical Microflowers: Hydrothermal Synthesis, Growth Mechanism, and Associated Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalysis

Nanostructured Bi5FeTi3O15 prepared by a facile hydrothermal method is reported as a new visible-light-driven photocatalyst, which exhibits a nanoplates-built, flower-like hierarchical structure. Its peculiar growth process, from nanonets to nanoplates-built microflowers, was studied when the time-dependent experiments were carried out. The as-prepared nano-Bi5FeTi3O15 shows excellent visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity compared with bulk-Bi5FeTi3O15 and the widely used photocatalyst TiO2. The characteristics of the photocatalyst, such as the crystal and band structure, are discussed. The relationship between the physicochemical property and the photocatalytic performance of the photocatalyst is also investigated. Since the nanostructured Bi5FeTi3O15 is first realized, other peculiar properties, such as ferroelectric, magnetic and magnetoelectric proper-ties besides the photocatalytic activity, may be revealed.