SiO2/Bi2MoO6 nanocomposites with high photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation

Highlights: • The SiO{sub 2}/Bi{sub 2}MoO{sub 6} composite photocatalysts were synthesized. • SiO{sub 2}/Bi{sub 2}MoO{sub 6} showed better photocatalytic performance than pure SiO{sub 2} and Bi{sub 2}MoO{sub 6}. • The photocatalytic mechanism of SiO{sub 2}/Bi{sub 2}MoO{sub 6} composite was also proposed. - Abstract: The effect of SiO{sub 2} nanoparticles on Bi{sub 2}MoO{sub 6} photocatalytic performance was described. The results indicated that SiO{sub 2} nanospheres were dispersed on Bi{sub 2}MoO{sub 6} nanosheets to form heterostructures with higher specific surface area and more intensive absorption within the visible light range in comparison with pure Bi{sub 2}MoO{sub 6}. These excellent structural and spectral properties endowed the SiO{sub 2}–Bi{sub 2}MoO{sub 6} composites with enhanced photocatalytic activities. The photocatalytic results for the degradation of Rhodamine B (Rh B) indicated that the most active composite proportion is 13.4%SiO{sub 2}–Bi{sub 2}MoO{sub 6}. The high visible light photocatalytic performance was attributed to the synergistic effect between SiO{sub 2} and Bi{sub 2}MoO{sub 6}, intensive absorption within the visible light range, and high specific surface area. It was also found that the photodegradation of Rh B molecules is mainly attributed to the oxidation action of the generated O{sub 2}·{sup −} radicals and partly to the action of h{sub vb}{sup +}more » through direct hole oxidation process.« less