Novel yolk-shell structure bismuth-rich bismuth molybdate microspheres for enhanced visible light photocatalysis.

The yolk-shell structure Bi(4-2x)Mo(x)O6 (x⩽1) microspheres were successfully synthesized via a simple solvothermal method. The morphology, structure and photocatalytic performances of the samples in the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and methyl orange (MO) were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectra, respectively. The results show that the yolk-shell structure Bi(2.38)Mo(0.81)O6 microspheres exhibit the best photocatalytic performance for the degradation of RhB and MO with a degradation rate of 99% and 72% under visible light irradiation.