Design and synthesis of multistructured three-dimensionally ordered macroporous composite bismuth oxide/zirconia: Photocatalytic degradation and hydrogen production

Xinyue Zhang; Li Li; Shanshan Wen; Hongxiang Luo; Changlong Yang

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2017.03.100

Design and synthesis of multistructured three-dimensionally ordered macroporous composite bismuth oxide/zirconia: Photocatalytic degradation and hydrogen production

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2017 Aug 1:499:159-169. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2017.03.100. Epub 2017 Apr 1.

Authors

Xinyue Zhang¹, Li Li², Shanshan Wen³, Hongxiang Luo⁴, Changlong Yang⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, PR China; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, PR China.
² College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, PR China; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, PR China; College of Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, PR China. Electronic address: qqhrll@163.com.
³ College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, PR China.
⁴ College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, PR China.

PMID: 28371675
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2017.03.100

Abstract

Two types of three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) Bi₂O₃/ZrO₂ composites were prepared by the sol-gel method combined with the decompression filling method using polystyrene (PS) microspheres and EO₂₀PO₇₀EO₂₀ (P123) as the templates. The crystal structure, morphology, and surface physicochemical properties of Bi₂O₃/ZrO₂ composites were well characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and N₂ adsorption-desorption measurements. The results show that 3DOM Bi₂O₃/ZrO₂ composites possessed mixed crystal phases including the monoclinic bismuth oxide and mixed zirconia phases, and moreover exhibited a regular arrangement and pure tetragonal (or hexagonal) macroporous structure. Moreover, compared to Bi₂O₃/ZrO₂, the specific surface areas of 3DOM Bi₂O₃/ZrO₂ composites were ca. 2.7-2.8 times. In addition, the properties of 3DOM Bi₂O₃/ZrO₂ composites with the tetragonal "fishing net" and hexagonal "honeycomb" structure were compared, and the relationship between the structure and activity of 3DOM Bi₂O₃/ZrO₂ composites was determined. The results show that in the UV photocatalytic degradation of pollutants and splitting of water into hydrogen using 3DOM Bi₂O₃/ZrO₂ composite, the tetragonal "fishing net" structure exhibited better activity than the hexagonal "honeycomb" structure. This can be attributed to different photocatalytic properties of the composites with different structures (tetragonal "fishing net" and hexagonal "honeycomb" structures).

Keywords: Bismuth oxide/zirconia; Photocatalysis; Polystyrene microspheres; Three-dimensionally ordered macroporous materials; Water splitting.