Template-free fabrication of Bi2O3 and (BiO)2CO3 nanotubes and their application in water treatment

Fan Qin; Guangfang Li; Runming Wang; Jiliang Wu; Hongzhe Sun; Rong Chen

doi:10.1002/chem.201201989

Template-free fabrication of Bi2O3 and (BiO)2CO3 nanotubes and their application in water treatment

Chemistry. 2012 Dec 14;18(51):16491-7. doi: 10.1002/chem.201201989. Epub 2012 Oct 22.

Authors

Fan Qin¹, Guangfang Li, Runming Wang, Jiliang Wu, Hongzhe Sun, Rong Chen

Affiliation

¹ Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education and School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Xiongchu Avenue, Wuhan, 430073, PR China.

PMID: 23090876
DOI: 10.1002/chem.201201989

Abstract

Uniform bismuth oxide (Bi(2)O(3)) and bismuth subcarbonate ((BiO)(2)CO(3)) nanotubes were successfully synthesized by a facile solvothermal method without the need for any surfactants or templates. The synergistic effect of ethylene glycol (EG) and urea played a critical role in the formation of the tubular nanostructures. These Bi(2)O(3) and (BiO)(2)CO(3) nanotubes exhibited excellent Cr(VI)-removal capacity. Bi(2)O(3) nanotubes, with a maximum Cr(VI)-removal capacity of 79 mg g(-1), possessed high removal ability in a wide range of pH values (3-11). Moreover, Bi(2)O(3) and (BiO)(2)CO(3) nanotubes also displayed highly efficient photocatalytic activity for the degradation of RhB under visible-light irradiation. This work not only demonstrates a new and facile route for the fabrication of Bi(2)O(3) and (BiO)(2)CO(3) nanotubes, but also provides new promising adsorbents for the removal of heavy-metal ions and potential photocatalysts for environmental remediation.