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Influence of PEG 6000 on gallium oxide (Ga2O3) polymorphs and photocatalytic properties

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Abstract

Three different nanorod-like gallium oxides with mono/poly-crystalline nature (α, β, and α/β-Ga2O3) were prepared by regulating the amount of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 in the range of 0.2–0.8 g proportionally via a hydrothermal method combined with further calcination. The bandgap of the products, given by UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-Vis DRS), was in the order of α-Ga2O3 > α/β-Ga2O3 > β-Ga2O3. To further investigate the photocatalysis performance of the catalysts, the decomposition of rhodamine B (RhB) by Ga2O3 under UV light illumination (λ < 387 nm) was presented and complete degradation could be achieved within 30 min, a result that showed the highest efficiency. The photocatalytic oxidation mechanism is further discussed and prominently related to the active species: hydroxyl radical (·OH) and superoxide radical (O2 · −), which were confirmed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biology and Medicine, Ministry of Education; College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China

    XiaoHui Chai & ZhiHong Liu

  2. Engineering Research Center of Eco-Environment in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China

    YingPing Huang

  3. Collaborative Innovation Center for Geo-Hazards and Eco-Environment in Three Gorges Area, Hubei Province, China Three Gorges University, YiChang, 443002, China

    YingPing Huang

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  1. XiaoHui Chai
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Correspondence to YingPing Huang.

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Chai, X., Liu, Z. & Huang, Y. Influence of PEG 6000 on gallium oxide (Ga2O3) polymorphs and photocatalytic properties. Sci. China Chem. 58, 532–538 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-014-5269-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-014-5269-6

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