Synthesis and photocatalytic properties of Bi2SiO5 and Bi12SiO20

Herein, the photochemical properties of layered Bi2SiO5 and body-centered Bi12SiO20 are investigated mainly. Under visible light irradiation (>420 nm), Bi12SiO20 shows a high photoactivity for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB), but Bi2SiO5 does not nearly show photoactivity due to its wide band gap. Under UV light irradiation (shorter than 420 nm), however, Bi2SiO5shows 2.1 times activity higherthan Bi12SiO20. Compared with Bi12SiO20 (1.6 m2 g−1), the obviously higherBET area (28.3 m2 g−1) of Bi2SiO5can provide more active sites. Moreover, the layer structure and the interlayer Bi-O-Si bonds of Bi2SiO5have improved the electron transfer efficiency.