Bi2MoO6 microstructures: controllable synthesis, growth mechanism, and visible-light-driven photocatalytic activities

Abstract

The hierarchical flower-like Bi₂MoO₆ microstructures have been prepared via a facile solvothermal approach, employing ethylene glycol as the reaction medium in the presence of ethylenediamine. The flake-like building units of the hierarchical, flower-like Bi₂MoO₆ were constructed by many smaller spherical particles. Reaction temperature, reaction time and the volume of ethylenediamine were studied and found to play crucial roles in the formation of the Bi₂MoO₆ architectures. A possible mechanism in the formation of the microstructures was proposed based on the results of the morphology evolution as a function of reaction time. The hierarchical flower-like Bi₂MoO₆ were found to exhibit highly efficient visible-light driven photocatalytic activities for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB). Comparisons of three Bi₂MoO₆ microstructures with different morphologies suggest that the morphologies of the products have a great effect on the photocatalytic activities.