Enhancing the photocatalytic activity of lead molybdate by modifying with fullerene

In this study, fullerene-modified lead molybdate (C-60-PbMoO4) was prepared via a hydrothermal method, and characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV-vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was shown that the introduction of C-60 reduces the crystallite size of PbMoO4, slightly influences the textual properties and optical characteristics (UV-vis absorption). The effect of C-60 content on the photocatalytic activity of C-60-PbMoO4 was studied in the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B under UV light and visible light irradiation. After modification with C-60, the photocatalytic activity of PbMoO4 increased 3.8 times at a C-60 weight ratio of 0.5 wt% under UV light irradiation, and 4.1 times at a C-60 weight ratio of 5.0 wt% under visible light irradiation. The significant photocatalytic activity of C-60-PbMoO4 was attributed to the excellent light absorption and charge separation on the interfaces between C-60 and PbMoO4. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.