Novel carbon sphere@Bi₂MoO₆ core-shell structure for efficient visible light photocatalysis

Carbon sphere (CS)@Bi₂MoO₆ core-shell structure (CS@BMO) composites were successfully synthesized via a solvothermal reaction of CSs and Bi₂MoO₆ precursors in the mixed solution of ethylene glycol and ethanol. The morphology, structure and photocatalytic performance of the composites in the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectra and nitrogen adsorption-desorption, respectively. The results show that the CS@BMO composites exhibit enhanced photocatalytic performance for degradation of RhB with a maximum degradation rate of 95% under visible light irradiation compared with the pure Bi₂MoO₆. The improved photocatalytic performance is ascribed to the enhanced specific surface area and light absorption as well as the reduced electron-hole pair recombination with the presence of CSs in the composites.