Biomolecule-assisted route to obtain nanostructured bismuth oxybromide with enhanced photocatalytic activity

Using a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, we synthesized BiOBr powders, with and without, glycine or phenylalanine as templates. The samples were characterized by X-ray Diffraction, UV–Vis Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy, and Field Emission Gun Scanning Electron Microscopy. The XRD patterns w...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Genesis de O. Lima, Thaylan P. Araújo, José Renato de O. Lima, Gilza Maria P. Prazeres, Carlos William A. Paschoal, Elson Longo, Auro A. Tanaka, Adeilton P. Maciel, Diego A.B. Barbosa, Marcio Aurélio P. Almeida
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021-01-01
Series:Boletín de la Sociedad Española de Cerámica y Vidrio
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0366317520300017
Description
Summary:Using a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, we synthesized BiOBr powders, with and without, glycine or phenylalanine as templates. The samples were characterized by X-ray Diffraction, UV–Vis Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy, and Field Emission Gun Scanning Electron Microscopy. The XRD patterns were indexed to the tetragonal structure and presented very different intensities from each other, which is consistent with changes in the structural organization. The FEG-SEM images showed morphology alterations, from nanoplates for unmodified BiOBr to nanolamellae for BiOBr with phenylalanine (BOB-phe). The catalytic activity of BOB-phe degraded 98% of Rhodamine B dye in approximately 20 min, while the other BiOBr compounds presented slower degradation kinetics, which could be explained by a higher amount of active sites on BOB-phe surface. Resumen: Utilizando un método hidrotermal asistido por microondas, sintetizamos los polvos de BiOBr, con y sin, glicina o fenilalanina como plantillas. Las muestras se caracterizaron por difracción de rayos X, espectroscopía de reflectancia difusa UV-Vis y microscopía electrónica de barrido con pistola de emisión de campo. Los patrones XRD se indexaron a la estructura tetragonal y presentaron intensidades muy diferentes entre sí, lo que es consistente con los cambios en la organización estructural. Las imágenes de FEG-SEM mostraron alteraciones de la morfología, desde nanoplacas para BiOBr no modificado hasta nanolamelas para BiOBr con fenilalanina (BOB-phe). La actividad catalítica de BOB-phe degradó el 98% del colorante de rodamina B en aproximadamente 20 minutos, mientras que los otros compuestos de BiOBr presentaron una cinética de degradación más lenta, lo que podría explicarse por una mayor cantidad de sitios activos en la superficie de BOB-phe.
ISSN:0366-3175