One-pot synthesis of micro/nano structured β-Bi2O3 with tunable morphology for highly efficient photocatalytic degradation of methylparaben under visible-light irradiation

beta-Bi2O3 micro/nanostructures with tunable morphologies were synthesized via a one-pot solvothermal-calcining route, and their photocatalytic activity toward degrading methylparaben (MeP, a widely used preservative with estrogenic activity) was evaluated under visible-light (lambda >= 420 nm) irradiation. The formation process of beta-Bi2O3 catalysts can be described as reduction of Bi3+ through a solvothermal reaction, followed by oxidization of metal Bi via calcination in air. During this process, the organic reductants (single or a mixture of ethylene glycol, D-fructose, and ascorbic acid) play important roles in determining the final morphologies and structures of the materials. Photocatalytic tests reveal that MeP can be effectively degraded and mineralized by using synthetic beta-Bi2O3 catalysts, and the reaction rate constant of an optimum sample is more than 25 and 160 times faster than a commercial Bi2O3 and synthetic N-TiO2, respectively. The superior photocatalytic activity of the optimum product is ascribed to its pure beta phase with a narrower band gap, good absorption of visible light, more efficient separation of electrons and holes, relatively higher BET specific surface area, and three-dimensional architectures, which favor more surface active sites and easier mass and photoinduced charge transportations. In addition, the main reactive oxygen species and possible degradation intermediates were detected, and the results suggest that photogenerated holes and superoxide radicals are the predominant species in the photochemical oxidation process.