Microwave-assisted synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic performance of Bi2O2CO3 nanoplates

The Bi2O2CO3 (BOC) samples were successfully synthesized by a microwave-assisted method at different microwave powers and lengths of irradiation time. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and UV–visible spectroscopy. The analytical results demonstrated that the sample synthesized at 600 W microwave power for 60 min was highly pure Bi2O2CO3 nanoplates with energy band gap of 3.16 eV. Photocatalytic efficiencies of all BOC nanoplates were investigated through the degradation of methyl orange (MO) induced by UV radiation. The BOC nanoplates synthesized by microwave method at 600 W for 60 min have the highest photocatalytic activity in degrading of MO by ●O2− active radical. Photocatalytic mechanisms of the BOC nanoplates were also proposed and explained in this research. The BOC nanoplates are very stable and reusable within five-cycle test.