A templated method to Bi2WO6 hollow microspheres and their conversion to double-shell Bi2O3/Bi2WO6 hollow microspheres with improved photocatalytic performance

Inorg Chem. 2012 Jun 4;51(11):6245-50. doi: 10.1021/ic300454q. Epub 2012 May 16.

Abstract

Bi(2)WO(6) hollow microspheres with dimension of ca. 1.5 μm were synthesized via a hydrothermal method using polystyrene particles as the template. The as-prepared Bi(2)WO(6) hollow microspheres can be further transformed to double-shell Bi(2)O(3)/Bi(2)WO(6) hollow microspheres. The samples were fully characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, N(2)-sorption Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area, UV-vis diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The as-formed double-shell Bi(2)O(3)/Bi(2)WO(6) hollow microspheres exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity due to the hollow nature and formation of the p-n junction between p-type Bi(2)O(3) and n-type Bi(2)WO(6). The study provides a general and effective method in the fabrication of composition and dimension-tunable composite hollow microspheres with sound heterojunctions that may show a variety of applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bismuth / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Light
  • Microspheres*
  • Oxides / chemistry*
  • Photoelectron Spectroscopy
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Tungsten Compounds / chemistry*
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Oxides
  • Tungsten Compounds
  • Bismuth