Studying the preparation of pure Bi12SiO20 by Pechini method with high photocatalytic performance

The sillenite compound Bi12SiO20 was synthesized via Pechini sol-gel method. Composition, crystallinity, microscopic appearance, and optical properties of samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, FTIR, and UV/Vis/NIR spectrophotometer. The photocatalytic property of pure Bi12SiO20 was also investigated by detecting the degradation rate of rhodamine B (RhB). The experimental conditions related to the preparation of pure phase bismuth silicate, such as the content of citric acid, calcination temperature schedule, and the molar ratio of Bi/Si were investigated. And when n((citric acid)) = 13 mmol, n((Bi/Si)) = 10, and heat preservation at 630 degrees C for 5 h, pure bismuth silicate powder can be successfully synthesized. And the degradation of RhB by Bi12SiO20 under visible light for 150 min can reach to 80%, which indicated that pure Bi12SiO20 is an excellent photocatalyst under the visible light. In addition, the capture experiments demonstrate that (V-o(+)) dominates in photocatalytic degradation.

Automated summary

In this study, the sillenite compound Bi12SiO20 was successfully synthesized via the Pechini sol-gel method, and its excellent photocatalytic performance in the degradation of Rhodamine B was confirmed. The optimal conditions for preparing pure phase bismuth silicate powder were identified through investigation of various experimental factors.