One-dimensional Bi2MoO6 nanotubes: controllable synthesis by electrospinning and enhanced simulated sunlight photocatalytic degradation performances

One-dimensional Bi2MoO6 nanotubes were successfully synthesized by the electrospinning technique in combination with the calcination process. The as-prepared samples were characterized by thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscope, microscopic Raman spectrometer, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope. The hollow morphology of the Bi2MoO6 nanotubes can be obtained after calcining the electrospun gel nanofibers. The results of the photocatalytic degradation tests show that the Bi2MoO6 nanotubes possessed a much higher degradation rate of methylene blue than that of degussa P25. In particular, Bi2MoO6 nanotubes calcined at 600 °C for 2 h (marked as BMO-600) exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity than that of γ-Bi2MoO6 phase calcined at 500 °C for 2 h (BMO-500) and that of γ′-Bi2MoO6 phase calcined at 700 °C for 2 h (BMO-700) under simulated sunlight irradiation. The formation of the surface-phase junctions between low-temperature γ-Bi2MoO6 phase and high-temperature γ′-Bi2MoO6 phase may be responsible for the highest photocatalytic activity of the BMO-600 sample.