Morphology-controlled preparation and enhanced simulated sunlight and visible-light photocatalytic activity of Pt/Bi5Nb3O15 heterostructures

Abstract

Plate- and octahedron-like Pt/Bi₅Nb₃O₁₅ heterostructures are controllably prepared by a hydrothermal treatment method combined with photodeposition in the presence of different surfactants, i.e., cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The composition, structure, morphology, optical absorption properties, and textural properties of as-prepared Pt/Bi₅Nb₃O₁₅ are well-characterized, and their simulated sunlight and visible-light photocatalytic activity is evaluated by the degradation of two typical organic pollutants, i.e., methyl orange (MO) and p-nitrophenol (PNP). Special attention is paid to investigate and explain the influence of the morphologies on the photocatalytic activity of the heterostructured Pt/Bi₅Nb₃O₁₅.