Synthesis and photocatalytic performance of Ag-loaded β-Bi ₂O₃ microspheres under visible light irradiation

The visible-light-driven photocatalyst Ag/β-Bi₂O ₃ microspheres were synthesized by a simple chemical method. First, β-Bi₂O₃ microspheres were obtained by a thermal treatment of sphere-like Bi₂O₂CO₃ precursor at 360 °C for 3 h in air and then Ag nanoparticles were in situ incorporated into β-Bi₂O₃ microspheres by impregnation method. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence measurements. The experimental results demonstrated that the visible light absorption of β-Bi₂O₃ photocatalyst is greatly enhanced with the incorporation of Ag nanoparticles. The SEM and TEM observations revealed that the Ag nanoparticles can be homogenously incorporated in the β-Bi₂O₃ microspheres. The photocatalytic activity of Ag/β-Bi₂O₃ sample was evaluated by the photodegradation of the Rhodamine-B under visible light irradiation as a function of Ag content. It is found that the photocatalytic efficiency of β-Bi₂O₃ can be significantly improved with the incorporation of Ag nanoparticles up to 2.0 wt% Ag. The mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic activity is also presented.