Synthesis of BiOBr-PVP hybrids with enhanced adsorption-photocatalytic properties

We synthesized BiOBr-PVP hybrids by a simple solvothermal process, and investigated the adsorption and photocatalytic properties. Due to the presence of PVP, the thickness of the BiOBr nanosheets in BiOBr-PVP hybrids can be greatly reduced, which increased the percentage of highly reactive (0 0 1) facets exposed. And PVP was found to be adsorbed on the surface of BiOBr nanosheets by a strong donor-acceptor interactions via C=O bonds, which lead to an enhanced zeta potential and stronger adsorption capacity of cationic RhB molecules on the surface of BiOBr-PVP hybrids. And due to the synergistic effects of both high percentage of reactive (0 0 1) crystal facets and strong adsorption capacity, BiOBr-PVP hybrids exhibit excellent activities and stabilities on RhB dye degradation, which could be potentially used for practical waste water treatments. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.