Monolayer Bi2W1-xMoxO6 Solid Solutions for Structural Polarity to Boost Photocatalytic Reduction of Nitrobenzene under Visible Light

Monolayer nanosheets of Bi2W1-xMoxO6 solid solutions, possessing an average thickness of 0.98 nm, have been rationally designed and constructed by a facile bottom-up route of a hydrothermal reaction. The tiptop photocatalytic efficiency of Bi2W1-xMoxO6 monolayer nanosheets can be achieved for effective reduction conversion of nitrobenzene into anilines under visible light, in conspicuous contrast to the homologous pristine Bi2WO6 and Bi2MoO6 components. The optimal Bi2W0.25Mo0.75O6 monolayer nanosheets exhibit a high selectivity and stability for photocatalytic nitrobenzene reduction, affording a high aniline generating rate of 650 mu mol g -L h(-1), in excess of the previously reported ordinary photocatalysts. The good photocatalytic property could be due to the lattice distortion in solid solutions for structural polarity by the more electronegative W substitution, leading to the efficient interfacial and interior separation of photogenerated carriers. The structure-activity relationship of Bi2W1-xMoxO6 demonstrates a novel insight to devise property-controllable photocatalysts at the atomic level with high efficiency for organic photocatalytic reactions.

Automated summary

Mono-layer nanosheets of Bi2W1-xMoxO6 solid solutions were designed and constructed by a simple hydrothermal reaction, exhibiting high photocatalytic efficiency for reducing nitrobenzene into anilines under visible light. The optimal Bi2W0.25Mo0.75O6 monolayer nanosheets showed high selectivity and stability, with a generating rate of 650 mu mol g -L h(-1) for aniline, surpassing ordinary photocatalysts. The lattice distortion in solid solutions due to W substitution led to efficient separation of photogenerated carriers, offering a novel insight for devising high-efficiency property-controllable photocatalysts at the atomic level.