Novel Bi3 O5 I2 hollow microsphere and its enhanced photocatalytic activity

Abstract

A new type of I-deficient bismuth oxyiodide Bi3 O5 I2 with a hollow morphology was prepared by the solvothermal process. The structure, composition, morphology, optical property and photoelectric property of the as prepared photocatalyst were investigated through some characterization methods. Those characterization results showed that Bi3 O5 I2 displayed a larger specific surface area, promising band structure and lower recombination of photoinduced carriers than pure BiOI. Bi3 O5 I2 had a higher photocatalytic activity than BiOI on the decomposition of methyl orange (MO) under simulated solar light irradiation. The superoxide (·O2−) and hole (h+) were the dominating active species during the degradation of MO. Its stability and reusability performance showed its great promising application in the degradation of organic pollutant.