A three-dimensional BiOBr/RGO heterostructural aerogel with enhanced and selective photocatalytic properties under visible light

• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2016.11.219
• Publication Date: 2016-11-30T19:45:15Z
• Authors: Xue Yu; Junjie Shi; Lijuan Feng; Chunhu Li; Liang Wang
• Keywords: 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology

Abstract A series of BiOBr/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) aerogel was fabricated using a two steps hydrothermal method. Various methods such as SEM, TEM, DRS and Raman spectroscopy were employed to fully characterize the as-obtained BiOBr/RGO. Their photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) were studied under visible light irradiation. The combination of BiOBr and RGO result in an improved activity. The sample with 10 wt% RGO abbreviated as BiOBr-G10 shows the highest activity. Moreover, this sample exhibits a selective visible-light photocatalytic behavior as the degradation rate over MO (80%) is much higher than that over Rhodamin B (50%) and phenol (35%) in 60 min. The XRD and photoluminescence emission spectroscopy characterization of the BiOBr-G10 samples indicates an increased crystallization of BiOBr and efficient quenching of photo-excited electrons and holes contributes to the improved photocatalytic activities.