Hierarchical assemblies of bismuth titanate complex architectures and their visible-light photocatalytic activities

The shape-controlled synthesis of hierarchically micro- and nanostructured materials has provided new possibilities to improve their physical and chemical properties. In this work, Bi12TiO20 complex architectures, such as nanospheres, nanowires, microflowers and microspheres were prepared through a facile solution-phase hydrothermal process, by controlling the reaction parameters, such as temperature, reagent concentration, and reaction time. Within the hydrothermal temperature range from 150 to 180 °C, the morphology transformed progressively from nanosphere agglomerates to microflowers, nanowires and then to microspheres with increasing time. A possible growth mechanism is proposed to explain the transformation of nanoparticles to microflowers via an Ostwald ripening mechanism followed by self-assembly and then break-up of the microflowers to nanowires and final consolidation into microspheres. Most importantly, these Bi12TiO20 samples dependent on their shape, size, and crystallinity, displayed high photocatalytic activities in comparison with bulk bismuth titanate powders, as demonstrated by the degradation of Rhodamine B under visible-light irradiation. The reasons for the difference in the photocatalytic properties of these Bi12TiO20 architectures are further investigated.

[1]  R. V. Kumar,et al.  Controlled synthesis of photoluminescent Bi4Ti3O12 nanoparticles from metal-organic polymeric precursor , 2010 .

[2]  R. V. Kumar,et al.  Solution-phase synthesis of single-crystalline Bi(12)TiO(20) nanowires with photocatalytic properties. , 2009, Chemical communications.

[3]  Ying Dai,et al.  First-Principles Characterization of Bi-based Photocatalysts: Bi12TiO20, Bi2Ti2O7, and Bi4Ti3O12 , 2009 .

[4]  B. Ohtani,et al.  Visible light responsive pristine metal oxide photocatalyst: enhancement of activity by crystallization under hydrothermal treatment. , 2008, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[5]  Shicheng Zhang,et al.  Mesoporous bismuth titanate with visible-light photocatalytic activity. , 2008, Chemical communications.

[6]  Wenzhong Wang,et al.  Monodisperse, Mesoporous ZnxCd1−xS Nanoparticles as Stable Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalysts , 2008 .

[7]  H. Jung,et al.  Synthesis of Cu2PO4OH Hierarchical Superstructures with Photocatalytic Activity in Visible Light , 2008 .

[8]  P. O’Brien,et al.  Deposition of hierarchical Cd(OH)2 anisotropic nanostructures at the water-toluene interface and their use as sacrificial templates for CdO or CdS nanostructures. , 2008, Chemical communications.

[9]  Xi-hong Lu,et al.  Facile and Efficient Electrochemical Synthesis of PbTe Dendritic Structures , 2008 .

[10]  W. Cai,et al.  ZnO Hierarchical Micro/Nanoarchitectures: Solvothermal Synthesis and Structurally Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance , 2008 .

[11]  Shuhong Yu,et al.  Necklace-like Cu@cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) core-shell microcables by hydrothermal process. , 2008, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[12]  Falong Jia,et al.  Generalized One-Pot Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Activity of Hierarchical BiOX (X = Cl, Br, I) Nanoplate Microspheres , 2008 .

[13]  Yitai Qian,et al.  Tunable Synthesis of Various Wurtzite ZnS Architectural Structures and Their Photocatalytic Properties , 2007 .

[14]  Lisha Zhang,et al.  Bi2WO6 nano- and microstructures: shape control and associated visible-light-driven photocatalytic activities. , 2007, Small.

[15]  P. Webley,et al.  Tuning the morphology of bismuth ferrite nano- and microcrystals: from sheets to fibers. , 2007, Small.

[16]  L.X. Yang,et al.  ZnO–SnO2 Hollow Spheres and Hierarchical Nanosheets: Hydrothermal Preparation, Formation Mechanism, and Photocatalytic Properties , 2007 .

[17]  Z. Zou,et al.  Preparation and characterization of polycrystalline bismuth titanate Bi12TiO20 and its photocatalytic properties under visible light irradiation , 2007 .

[18]  Yunhui Huang,et al.  Tunable Synthesis of Bismuth Ferrites with Various Morphologies , 2006 .

[19]  Steven L. Suib,et al.  Hydrothermal Growth of Manganese Dioxide into Three‐Dimensional Hierarchical Nanoarchitectures , 2006 .

[20]  Peidong Yang,et al.  Inorganic nanotubes: a novel platform for nanofluidics. , 2006, Accounts of chemical research.

[21]  Jinhua Ye,et al.  Efficient photocatalytic decomposition of organic contaminants over CaBi2O4 under visible-light irradiation. , 2004, Angewandte Chemie.

[22]  H. Zeng,et al.  Controlled Synthesis and Self-Assembly of Single-Crystalline CuO Nanorods and Nanoribbons , 2004 .

[23]  L. Li,et al.  Spontaneous Organization of Three‐Dimensionally Packed Trigonal Selenium Microspheres into Large‐Area Nanowire Networks , 2003, Advanced Materials.

[24]  W. Su,et al.  Synthesis, phase transformation and dielectric properties of sol–gel derived Bi2Ti2O7 ceramics , 2003 .

[25]  Hong Wang,et al.  Photocatalytic property of bismuth titanate Bi12TiO20 crystals , 2003 .

[26]  A. Bell.  The Impact of Nanoscience on Heterogeneous Catalysis , 2003, Science.

[27]  Zhifeng Ren,et al.  ZnO nanobridges and nanonails , 2003 .

[28]  Y. Sugahara,et al.  Intercalation Behavior of n-Alkylamines into a Protonated Form of a Layered Perovskite Derived from Aurivillius Phase Bi2SrTa2O9 , 2003 .

[29]  O. Terasaki,et al.  Preparation and HREM characterization of a protonated form of a layered perovskite tantalate from an Aurivillius phase Bi(2)SrTa(2)O(9) via acid treatment. , 2001, Inorganic chemistry.

[30]  G. Park,et al.  Macromolecular Nanoplatelet of Aurivillius-type Layered Perovskite Oxide, Bi4Ti3O12 , 2001 .

[31]  R. Penner,et al.  Molybdenum nanowires by electrodeposition. , 2000, Science.

[32]  Jiangtao Hu,et al.  Chemistry and Physics in One Dimension: Synthesis and Properties of Nanowires and Nanotubes , 1999 .

[33]  H. Loye,et al.  Recent developments in oxide ion conductors: Aurivillius phases , 1996 .

[34]  L. Palmisano,et al.  Influence of the preparation methods of titanium dioxide on the photocatalytic degradation of phenol in aqueous dispersion , 1990 .