Structural tuning of bismuth molybdate composite photocatalyst for pollutants removal

In this study, a one-step hydrothermal method was employed to tune the structural characteristics and properties of Bi2MoO6-based composite. The manipulation of the phase composition and crystallite dimensions of Bi2MoO6 was achieved by varying the dosage of sodium molybdate, as evidenced by the XRD analyses. Moreover, the amalgamation of modified Bi2MoO6 nanoparticles with supporting materials such as kaolinite and attapulgite was observed to potentially impede the phase transition of Bi2MoO6. Emphasis was also placed on the influence of support quantity on the composite's structural attributes. Experimental results substantiated that the Bi2MoO6-based composite (BMOK-1.5/1) exhibited exceptional adsorption and photocatalytic performance in the degradation of TC and RhB under visible light exposure, particularly when three-fifths of the theoretical quantity of sodium molybdate was incorporated. The enhanced performance is attributed to the composite's large specific surface area, increased surface hydroxyl groups, and diminished recombination rate of photogenerated carriers. This study introduces a straightforward approach for regulating the structural aspects of bismuth-based photocatalysts.