Band alignment and enhanced photocatalytic activation of α/β-Bi2O3 heterojunctions via in situ phase transformation.

The assembling heterojunction, one of the key topics in photocatalysts and semiconductors (SCs), is generally accomplished in at least two steps, of which the first step is the synthesis of a matrix, and then the growth of the second phase on the matrix. Herein we present the preparation of α/β-Bi2O3 heterojunctions by an in situ phase transformation technique. Under normal pressure, a facile citrate method was used to synthesize β-Bi2O3 nanosheets and α/β-Bi2O3 heterojunctions. The novel features of the process are the mild operating conditions by an appropriate selection of heat treatment temperature and time. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we found that a number of nano-sized α-Bi2O3 form on the β-Bi2O3 nanosheet via a controlled β→α phase transition, generating a large number of heterojunctions. The CM1 (calcining β-Bi2O3 precursor at 363 °C for 4 h) heterojunction achieves a strong visible light absorption and dye absorption capacity and produces a very high reaction rate for Rhodamine B (RhB) photodegradation. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed excellent charge transfer characteristics of the heterojunction, which accounts for its high photoactivity. Using the X-ray electron valence band spectra, it is found that the valence band of α-Bi2O3 is more negative than that of β-Bi2O3. Thus, in heterojunctions, the photogenerated holes in β-Bi2O3 are transferred to α-Bi2O3 with good charge transport characteristics by the intrinsic driving force in the interface field. Furthermore, a separated hole can accomplish a transfer process from α-Bi2O3 to the aqueous solution within its lifetime due to the diameter of α-Bi2O3 being less than 17.6 nm.