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Simple and Easy Control-Synthesis of Pure α-Bi2O3 and Bi2O2CO3: Morphological, Optical and Solar Photon-Energy Photocatalytic Studies

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Abstract

Herein, a simple control-synthesis of pure α-Bi2O3 or Bi2O2CO3 was realized for opto-electronics and photocatalytic studies. Precipitation via different precipitants (NaOH, KOH and NH4OH) as well as sol gel techniques have been used to form pure α-Bi2O3 or Bi2O2CO3 using Bi(NO3)3·5H2O. The XRD analysis verified that pure α-Bi2O3 phase was formed through using NaOH and sol–gel techniques while KOH and NH4OH produced pure Bi2O2CO3. The morphological shape of α-Bi2O3 (NaOH) powder shows rods structure having different length and diameter. The SEM image of Bi2O2CO3 (KOH) powder illustrates cotton-shaped like structure while Bi2O2CO3 (NH4OH) powder shows spongy grains shape. The SEM micrograph of α-Bi2O3 powder (sol–gel) displays a highly porous network. The optical band gap energy of the α-Bi2O3 (NaOH) and α-Bi2O3 (sol gel) was found to be 2.88 and 2.91 eV, respectively. On the other hand, Bi2O2CO3-KOH and Bi2O2CO3-NH4OH powders revealed UV band gap energies of 3.56 and 352 eV, respectively. Optically, α-Bi2O3 sample revealed a high refractive index value above 2.3. The solar energy photocatalytic tests indicated that α-Bi2O3 (sol gel) catalyst has a remarkable efficiency of 78% and 80% to degrade methylene blue (MB) and Congo red (CR) dyes during 210 min, respectively. Bi2O2CO3 (KOH) powder exhibits the second highest photocatalytic activity for MB and CR dyes reached to 71% and 77% under sunlight irradiation. The high performance of α-Bi2O3 (sol–gel) catalyst can be ascribed to the morphological structure, high crystallinity, wide light absorption and well charge separation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inorganic Chemistry Department, National Research Centre (NRC), El Buhouth St., Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt

    Mohammed Ahmed Wahba & Saad Mabrouk Yakout

  2. Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom, Egypt

    Yasser Kamal Abdel-Monem & Amira Abdelhafeez Abdelrahman Hammood

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  1. Mohammed Ahmed Wahba
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Wahba, M.A., Yakout, S.M., Abdel-Monem, Y.K. et al. Simple and Easy Control-Synthesis of Pure α-Bi2O3 and Bi2O2CO3: Morphological, Optical and Solar Photon-Energy Photocatalytic Studies. Chemistry Africa 7, 195–207 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42250-023-00749-6

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