Two dimensional PbMoO4: A photocatalytic material derived from a naturally non-layered crystal

Abstract

Metal molybdates, such as lead molybdate (PbMoO4), are wide bandgap crystals with favourable photophysical and photocatalytic properties and also high stability. If these crystals are synthesized in two dimensional (2D) morphologies, they can offer the needed large surface-area for photo-reactions. However, this category of materials does not constitute natural stratified crystals, and hence cannot be readily formed into 2D sheets using conventional methods. Here we present a two-step synthesis approach. First, we exfoliate stratified α-MoO3 into α-MoO3-x. Subsequently, these defect rich 2D α-MoO3-x nanosheets are transformed into stable 2D PbMoO4 nanosheets by dipping-pulling. We show that ..