Development of bismuth based heterostructures for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in aqueous phase

Abstract

Numerous organic pollutants such as dyes and phenols have been found in water sources due to the discharge of industrial effluents mainly from chemical-based industries. These toxic pollutants are disrupting the natural functioning of our ecosystem and causing adverse health impacts to biotic communities. Herein, we report the facile synthesis of Bi-based heterostructures using chemical precipitation, solvothermal, and hydro-thermal methods. The as-prepared heterostructures were characterized using several techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Photoluminance spectroscopy (PL), Electron impedance spectroscopy (EIS), UV-diffusive reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), Fourier transmission emission microscopy (FESEM), High-resolution transmission emission microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photon electron spectroscopy (XPS), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and BET surface area analysis. The photocatalytic activity of as-prepared bismuth-based photocatalysts was evaluated under natural solar light and the degradation of amido black-10B, 2,4-dinitro phenol, rhodamine B, and methylene blue in aqueous phase. newline