Ternary reduced-graphene-oxide/Bi2MoO6/Au nanocomposites with enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light

A novel ternary nanocomposite photocatalyst consisted of reduced-graphene-oxide (RGO), Bi2MoO6 and plasmonic Au nanoparticles were successfully fabricated by multiple steps including a simple solvothermal process and photochemical reduction process. RGO/Bi2MoO6/Au was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction patterns, transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In comparison with Bi2MoO6, RGO/Bi2MoO6 and Au/Bi2MoO6, RGO/Bi2MoO6/Au exhibits an enhanced photocatalytic activity for decomposition of Rhodamine B under visible light. The separation efficiency of the photogenerated holes and electrons on Bi2MoO6 is promoted by the combined effect of both RGO and Au in the ternary composite, and thus enhances photocatalytic activity. The scavenger study revealed that both hole and superoxide are the major reactive species for the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B using RGO/Bi2MoO6/Au photocatalyst. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.