Rapid microwave irradiation synthesis and characterization of Bi7O9I3 photocatalyst for the degradation of bisphenol A

Bi7O9I3 photocatalysts were successfully synthesized by a microwave irradiation method at different temperatures and times. The effects of synthesis conditions on the phase, optical property, surface morphology and elemental composition of as-synthesized catalysts were investigated. Results revealed the presence of Bi7O9I3 with band gap energy ranging from 2.20 eV to 2.24 eV. Moreover, photocatalytic activity of Bi7O9I3 was evaluated by the degradation efficiency of bisphenol A (BPA) under xenon lamp illumination. Among the samples, Bi7O9I3 synthesized at 160 degrees C for 30 min displayed the best photocatalytic performance. The removal efficiency of BPA was affected by pH value of BPA solutions and gradually enhanced with the increase of pH from 3 to 10. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.