Template-free, simple fabrication of C/N-doped Bi2O3 nanospheres with appreciable photocatalytic activity under visible light

C/N-doped Bi2O3 porous nanospheres have been successfully synthesized through a simple, template-free solution route. X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), near-edge Xray absorption fine-structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) are employed to probe the chemical states of C and N atoms on the surface, the local structure of incorporated C and N atoms in bulk and the valence band structure of the photocatalyst samples, respectively. It is found that the microstructural and optical properties, and hence the photocatalytic activity, can be conveniently adjusted by introducing the dopant source at different stages of synthesis. The C/N-doped samples demonstrate outstanding performances in visible light photocatalysis for decomposition of atrazine. Excellent reusability and appreciable capability of reducing the toxicity of the photocatalytically treated atrazine solution in a relatively short period of irradiation time are also the other key features of these newly developed C/N-Bi2O3 nanospheres. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.