S-doped Sb2O3 nanocrystal: An efficient visible-light catalyst for organic degradation

Abstract

The S-doped Sb2 O3 nanocrystals were successfully synthesized using SbCl3 and thioacetamide (TAA) as precursors via a facile one-step hydrothermal method. The effects of pH of the precursor reaction solution on the product composition and property were determined. The results indicated that the doping amount of S could be tuned by adjusting the pH of the precursor solution. Furthermore, the S entered into the interstitial site of Sb2 O3 crystals as S2−, which broadened the absorption wavelength range of the Sb2O3 nanocrystal. The S-doped Sb2 O3 exhibited an excellent visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity in the decomposition of methyl orange and 4-phenylazophenol. Last, a possible photocatalytic mechanism of the S-doped Sb2 O3 under visible light irradiation was proposed.