Solvothermal fabrication and construction of highly photoelectrocatalytic TiO2 NTs/Bi2MoO6 heterojunction based on titanium mesh

Abstract

The fabrication of TiO₂ NTs/Bi₂MoO₆ type-II heterojunction photocatalyst was carried out by a simple solvothermal method. Bi₂MoO₆ nanoparticles with nanosheet microstructures were successfully loaded on TiO₂ NTs surface through the adjustment of reaction intervals. The heterojunction photocatalyst showed excellent organic dye and heavy metal ion removal performances, and nearly 100%, 75%, 100% and 100% of MO, RhB, MB and Cr (VI) were removed by simulative sunlight irradiation for 3 or 2 h, respectively. The outstanding photocatalyic performance was mainly due to the formation of type-II heterojunction between TiO₂ and Bi₂MoO₆. The type-II heterojunction not only enhanced visible light response but also accelerated photogenerated charge carrier transfer and restrained the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs with the assistance of internal electric field.

Keywords: Bi(2)MoO(6); Photoelectrocatalyst; Ti mesh; TiO(2) nanotube arrays; Type-II heterojunction.