Synthesis of nanosheet-based hierarchical BiO2 microtubes and its photocatalytic performance

Except for widely investigated Bi(III)- and Bi(V)-containing oxides photocatalysts, bismuth oxides with the middle valence states or nonstoichiometric phase of elemental bismuth such as BiO2-x and Bi2O4 and so on, have been reported as alternates for the treatment of contaminated wastewater due to relatively redox-sensitive structure. Herein, unique one-dimensional (1D) tubular BiO2 hierarchical architectures assembled by nanosheets were synthesized for the first time by a hydrothermal route, which exhibited efficient photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methyl orange (MO) and malachite green (MG) under visible light illumination, as well as moderate stability. Good photocatalytic performance of BiO2 microtubes could be attributed to extensive response to visible light, and efficient transport and separation of photogenerated electrons and holes through 1D ordered tubular hierarchitecture.