Degradation of rhodamine B photocatalyzed by hydrothermally prepared Pd-doped Bi<inf>2</inf>MoO<inf>6</inf> nanoplates

Abstract

0–5% Pd-doped Bi2MoO6 nanoplates as visible-light-driven photocatalysts were successfully prepared in this research. The XRD patterns of as-prepared Pd-doped Bi2MoO6 samples were indexed to pure orthorhombic Bi2MoO6 phase with no impurity detection. The Raman and FTIR wavenumbers of Pd-doped Bi2MoO6 nanoplates were significantly shifted by the change of energy bonds in Bi2MoO6 nanoplates, including the TEM characterization of the growth of nanoplates through the exposure {020} facet. Main symmetric stretching vibration of MoO6 containing in Pd-doped Bi2MoO6 nanoplates were also detected. XPS of 3% Pd-doped Bi2MoO6 nanoplates revealed the binding energies of Pd 3d5/2 and Pd 3d3/2 core levels, which are indicative of incorporated Pd2+ ions in Bi2MoO6 lattice. The photocatalytic activities of Bi2MoO6 with and without being loaded with Pd dopant monitored through the degradation of rhodamine B were increased from 38.36% for Bi2MoO6 to 97.12% for 3% Pd-doped Bi2MoO6 photodegraded by h+ and ·O2− main active radicals. The 3% Pd-doped Bi2MoO6 nanoplates were very stable and reusable for wastewater treatment.