Preparation of a novel Bi2MoO6 flake-like nanophotocatalyst by molten salt method and evaluation for photocatalytic decomposition of rhodamine B

The flake-like nanoscale gamma-bismuth molybdate (Bi2MoO6) powders as a novel photocatalyst was prepared using Bi(NO3)(3)center dot 5H(2)O and Na2MoO4 center dot 2H(2)O as raw materials by a simple low-temperature molten salt method at 350 degrees C for 1, 4 and 8h, respectively. The as-prepared samples were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV-vis absorption spectra (UV-vis). The photocatalytic activity of Bi2MoO6 crystals was evaluated using the photocatalytic oxidation of rhodamine B (RhB) at room temperature under ultraviolet irradiation. It was found that the band gap adsorption edge of Bi2MoO6 is estimated to be 477 nm corresponding to the band gap energy to be 2.60 eV. In addition, the Bi2MoO6 powders exhibit good photocatalytic properties to photodegrade RhB at room temperature. Finally, the mechanism of photocatalytic property of Bi2MoO6 had been also discussed. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.