Synthesis of In₂O₃/BiOCl Composite Photocatalyst and its Photocatalytic Activity for the Degradation of Rhodamine B under Visible Light Irradiation

Abstract:

We report on the synthesis and photocatalytic activity of 10 wt% In₂O₃/BiOCl composite photocatalyst. The 10 wt% In₂O₃/BiOCl composite photocatalyst was synthesized by a simple chemical coprecipitation method at room temperature followed by thermal treatment at 400 °C for 2 h. During thermal treatment at 400 °C for 2 h, the amorphous-to-crystalline phase transformation occurs in In₂O₃. Pure BiOCl possesses flower-like nanostructures composed of nanoplates with single-crystal nature. With the incorporation of 10 wt% In₂O₃, the morphology of the composite photocatalyst is mainly constituted of particles with two different forms: nanoflowers of BiOCl and nanoparticles of In₂O₃. The effect of 10 wt% In₂O₃ on the photocatalytic activity of the composite photocatalyst was evaluated for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. The 10 wt% In₂O₃/BiOCl composite photocatalyst shows enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to pure BiOCl. Based on the results obtained in this study, the mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of 10 wt% In₂O₃/BiOCl composite photocatalyst is discussed.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 747)
• Pages: 635-638
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.747.635
• Online since: August 2013
• Authors: Gang Qiang Zhu, Mirabbos Hojamberdiev, Ken Ichi Katsumata, Nobuhiro Matsushita, Kiyoshi Okada, Peng Liu, Jian Ping Zhou
• Keywords: Bismuth Oxychloride, Composite Photocatalyst, Indium Oxide, Nanostructure, Photodegradation, Visible Light Irradiation

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DOI: 10.1016/j.apcata.2011.10.029