Preparation of Novel Mesoporous Photocatalyst Bi<sub>4</sub>O<sub>5</sub>Br<sub>2</sub>/SBA-15 with Enhanced Visible-Light Catalytic Activity

Abstract

Photocatalysis is one of the most promising methods owing to its great potential to relieve environmental issue. To construct efficient photocatalyst with low energy consumption, mild catalytic conditions, and stable chemical properties are highly desired. In this work, a novel, highly active and environmental friendly mesoporous photocatalyst Bi 4 O 5 Br 2 /SBA-15 was synthesized by hydrothermal method, and its characteristics and visible-light catalytic activity were investigated. The synthesized photocatalyst consisted of Langmuir type IV hysteresis loops, which was confirmed to be a composite material with mesoporous structure. It exhibited a high visible-light absorption intensity and a low recombination rate of photo-generated electrons and holes. When the mass ratio of Bi/SiO 2 was 30/100 during the synthesis, the obtained photocatalyst (Bi 30 /SBA-15) reflected the fastest Rhodamine B (RhB) removal rate and achieved 100% decolorization of RhB by both adsorption and degradation process. This high decolorization efficiency can also be maintained and realized by recycling the used composite in practice. The enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity of novel Bi 4 O 5 Br 2 /SBA-15 photocatalyst can be ascribed to the existing active sites both inside and outside SBA-15 which enhanced the separation of photo-generated electrons and holes.