Preparation and properties of visible light responsive ZrTiO4/Bi2O3 photocatalysts for 4-chlorophenol decomposition

Abstract

In this work, visible light responsive (VLR) ZrTiO4/Bi2O3 photocatalysts were successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal method. The prepared ZrTiO4/Bi2O3 photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction studies (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence (PL) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. DRS results revealed that the extent of light absorption towards the visible region of the spectrum increased with an increase in the calcination temperature of the catalysts up to 450°C and then started to decrease. The decrease in absorption at high temperatures was mainly due to the formation of polycrystalline ZrT..