Novel Bi₂MoO₆/TiO₂ heterostructure microspheres for degradation of benzene series compound under visible light irradiation

Novel Bi₂MoO₆/TiO₂ heterostructure microspheres were successfully synthesized via a facile solvothermal method. Their morphology, structure and photocatalytic performance in the degradation of phenol and nitrobenzene were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectra, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and total organic carbon analyser, respectively. The results show that the Bi₂MoO₆/TiO₂ heterostructures exhibit excellent photocatalytic performance with maximum phenol and nitrobenzene degradation rates of 96% and 94% and corresponding mineralization rates of 66% and 61% in 300min under visible light irradiation, respectively. The improved photocatalytic performance is mainly ascribed to the reduced electron-hole pair recombination with the introduction of TiO₂.