Photocatalytic degradation of p-Cresol was evaluated using the mixed oxide BiO/TiO (containing 2 and 20% wt. BiO referred as TB2 and TB20) and was compared with bare TiO under simulated solar radiation. Materials were prepared by the classic sol-gel method. All solids exhibited the anatase phase by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. The synthesized materials presented lower crystallite size and Eg value, and also higher surface area as BiO amount was increased. Bi content was quantified showing near to 70% of theoretical values in TB2 and TB20. BiO incorporation also was demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Characterization of mixed oxides suggests a homogeneous distribution of BiO on TiO surface. Photocatalytic tests were carried out using a catalyst loading of 1 g L under simulated solar light and visible light. The incorporation of BiO in TiO improved the photocatalytic properties of the synthesized materials obtaining better results with TB20 than the unmodified TiO under both radiation sources.
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