Bifunctional, Monodisperse BiPO4-Based Nanostars: Photocatalytic Activity and Luminescent Applications

Monodisperse, monoclinic BiPO4 nanostars have been synthesized by a homogeneous precipitation reaction at 120 degrees C through controlled release of Bi3+ cations from a Bi-citrate chelate, in a mixture of glycerol and ethylene glycol, using H3PO4 as the phosphate source. The set of experimental conditions necessary to obtain uniform nanoparticles is very restrictive, as the change in either the polyol ratio or the reactant concentrations led to ill-defined and/or aggregated particles. The morphology of the particles consists of a starlike, hierarchical structure formed by the ordered arrangement of nanorod bundles. Transmission electron tomography has revealed that the nanostars are not spherical but flattened particles. Likewise, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetry have shown that the synthesized nanostars are functionalized with citrate groups. The mechanism of formation of the nanostars has been analyzed to explain their morphological features. The as-synthesized BiPO4 nanostars exhibit an efficient photocatalytic performance for the degradation of Rhodamine B. Finally, it has been demonstrated that the stars can be Eu3+-doped up to 2 mol % without any change in the particle morphology or symmetry, and the doped samples show emission in the orange-red region of the visible spectrum after ultraviolet excitation. These experimental observations make this material a suitable phosphor for biotechnological applications.