Novel reduced graphene oxide wrapped Bi_2.38Mo_0.81O₆ microspheres for highly efficient visible light photocatalysis

Novel reduced graphene oxide (RGO) wrapped Bi_2.38Mo_0.81O₆ (Bi_2.38Mo_0.81O₆@RGO) composites were successfully synthesized via a facile method. The morphology, structure and photocatalytic performance of the composites in the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and phenol were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectra, respectively. The results show that the Bi_2.38Mo_0.81O₆@RGO composites exhibit enhanced photocatalytic performance in the degradation of RhB and phenol with maximum degradation rates of 99% (80min) and 88% (240min) under visible light irradiation, respectively. The improved photocatalytic performance is mainly ascribed to the enhanced light absorption and the reduced electron-hole pair recombination with the presence of RGO in the composites.