CTAB-assisted solvothermal construction of hierarchical Bi2MoO6/Bi5O7Br with improved photocatalytic performances

Abstract We report the preparation and photoelectrochemical performance of three dimensional (3D) flower-like Bi2MoO6/Bi5O7Br nanosphere deposited on TiO2 NTA surface by a solvothermal method. The CTAB surfactant working as the morphology controlling reagent and bromine resource played significant roles in the Bi2MoO6/Bi5O7Br crystal growth and photocatalytic pollutant removal. The S-0.15 sample with hierarchical heterostructures showed the excellent photoelectric conversion and waste water purification properties. The visible light photocurrent and photovoltage of S-0.15 achieved 0.21 mA/cm2 and -0.37 V, and 73.43%, 47.77%, 93.81% and 69.40% of RhB, MO, MB and Cr(VI) underwent removal under solar irradiation. The O2-• radicals were the main active groups for RhB and MO decoloration, and all radicals including O2-•, •OH and hole could achieve the MB degradation. Moreover, the mechanism for the electron transportation was proposed by the calculation of energy band edge location in the triple photocatalyst. The novel triple photocatalyst with hierarchical structures would provide the platform for the efficient solar cells and photocatalysts.