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CERAMICS
INTERNATIONAL
Ceramics International 42 (2016) 2013–2020
www.elsevier.com/locate/ceramint

Photocatalytic properties of Bi2O3 powders obtained

by an ultrasound-assisted precipitation method
D. Sánchez-Martínezn, I. Juárez-Ramírez, Leticia M. Torres-Martínez, I. de León-Abarte
Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ingeniería Civil-Departamento de Ecomateriales y Energía, Cd. Universitaria, C.P. 66455 San Nicolás de los
Garza, N.L., México
Received 29 July 2015; received in revised form 2 October 2015; accepted 2 October 2015
Available online 14 October 2015

Abstract

Bi2O3 nanoplates were synthesized by an ultrasound-assisted precipitation method in aqueous solution with different times of exposure to
ultrasound radiation. The formation of Bi2O3 oxide with a monoclinic structure was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), which was
also used to determine the crystallite size and lattice strain. The characterization of Bi2O3 samples was complemented with scanning electron
microscopy (SEM), which revealed the morphology of the particles as irregular, ovoid and rectangular nanoplates as a function of the time of
exposure to ultrasound radiation. Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to confirm the elimination of the bismuth nitrate used in the synthesis.
The specific surface area was determined by the BET method. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) was used to determine the band-gap
energy (Eg) of the Bi2O3 samples. The photocatalytic activity of Bi2O3 samples was evaluated with respect to the degradation reactions of
rhodamine B (rhB), indigo carmine (IC) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) in aqueous solution under Xe lamp irradiation. The highest
photocatalytic activity was identified for the sample exposed to 2 h ultrasound radiation, i.e., the sample that presented the highest crystallinity,
smaller particle size and a more homogeneous morphology. The mineralization degree of organic dyes and antibiotic by Bi2O3 was determined by
the total organic carbon analysis (TOC), reaching percentages of 40% for rhB, 13% for IC and 72% for TC after 24 h of Xe lamp irradiation.
& 2015 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Bi2O3; Ultrasound-assisted precipitation synthesis; Organic pollutants; Photocatalysis

1. Introduction
The environmental pollution caused by human activities has
continued to increase, which has necessitated the implementa-
tion of sustainable processes. Heterogeneous photocatalysis,
which is a clean, green and sustainable technology for the
elimination of organic pollutants present in water as dyes,
medicine and pesticides, has been introduced [1]. This technol-
ogy uses a material semiconductor called a photocatalyst for the
degradation of organic contaminants active under irradiation
with UV and visible light. Recently, the development of
material photocatalyst have been oriented toward the use of
the solar radiation, including simple oxides, such as Bi2O3 [2],
n
Corresponding author.
Tel.: þ 52 81 1442 4400x5143; fax: þ 52 81 1442 4443.
E-mail address: dansanm@gmail.com (D. Sánchez-Martínez).
CuO [3], ZnO [4] and WO3 [5], and some mixed oxides such as
Bi2MoO6 [6], BiVO4 [7] and Bi2WO6 [8]. Bi2O3 has attracted
the most attention because it has the advantages of being
economically and environmentally viable for use as a photo-
catalyst in the remediation of contaminated water [4,9]. Bi2O3 is
active under irradiation with visible light due to having an Eg of
approximately 2.7–2.8 eV [9,10]. This oxide presents the
polymorphism phenomenon with the phase α-Bi2O3 being more
stable at ambient temperature [11]. There are few studies in the
literature about the use of Bi2O3 as a photocatalyst in the
degradation of organic compounds, such as dyes, and even less
for the degradation of antibiotics. Bi2O3 has been regularly used
when doped or mixed with other oxides. Therefore, Bi2O3 is a
good candidate to further explore the degradation of organic
pollutants in aqueous media. The synthesis of Bi2O3 has
attracted special attention, and researchers have attempted to
prepare it through various methods, including precipitation [12],

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2015.10.007
0272-8842/& 2015 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.
2014 D. Sánchez-Martínez et al. / Ceramics International 42 (2016) 2013–2020
refluxing [13], urea [14], citrate [15], sonochemical [16],
electrospinning [17] and hydrothermal [18]. The precipitation
method is the simplest to obtain Bi2O3 with good crystallinity
but with the disadvantage of obtained particle size and
morphology being highly variable. However, this variability
can be controlled and improved with the assistance of other
methods, such as ultrasound. This combination of synthesis
methods potentiates the preparation of materials because it is
possible to exploit the advantages of both methods to achieve
synergy that minimizes the disadvantages of the individual
methods, thus obtaining materials with unique properties.
Therefore, in this work, Bi2O3 nanoplates were successfully
prepared by ultrasound-assisted precipitation in aqueous solution
with different times of exposure to ultrasound radiation. The
samples were characterized, and their photocatalytic properties
were evaluated in the degradation of two dyes and an antibiotic:
rhodamine B (rhB, CAS 81-88-9), indigo carmine (IC, CAS 860-
22-0) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC, CAS 64-75-5) under
Xe lamp irradiation as a simulated sunlight source.
2. Experimental
2.1. Synthesis of Bi2O3
Bi2O3 powders were synthesized by ultrasound-assisted
precipitation in aqueous solution with different times of
exposure to ultrasound radiation. The Bi2O3 samples were
prepared by the following procedure: 6.25 g (0.0129 mol) of
bismuth(III) nitrate pentahydrate (BiN3O9  5H2O, Z98% pur-
ity, Sigma-Aldrich) was dissolved in 100 mL of a nitric acid
solution (10% v/v, HNO3) under continuous stirring at 80 1C in
an electric oven. Then, the pH of the solution was adjusted to 11
with a 2 M NaOH solution, causing the formation of a white
precipitate. The precipitated was maintained without stirring in
an ultrasonic bath (42 kHz þ / 6%, 100 W) for 1, 2 or 3 h.
The precipitate was then washed several times with distilled
water to neutralize the pH of the solution and was dried in air at
80 1C for 24 h. Finally, the material was thermally treated at
500 1C for 4 h from room temperature to the specified tempera-
ture at a heating rate of 10 1C min  1 to obtain Bi2O3. For
comparative purposes, commercial Bi2O3 was used (99.9%
purity, 10 mm, Sigma-Aldrich).
2.2. Characterization of the samples
Structural characterization of the Bi2O3 samples was per-
formed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis using a
BRUKER D8 ADVANCED diffractometer with CuKα radia-
tion (λ¼ 1.5418 Å) equipped with a high-speed Vantec detector.
X-ray diffraction data were collected in the 2θ range of 10–701
with a scan rate of 0.051 and 0.5 s  1. To estimate the crystallite
size and lattice strain behavior, the Bi2O3 samples were
followed by means of the half-width of the strongest line of
the XRD pattern of oxide. Using these data, the crystallite size
of the particles of the samples was calculated through the
Scherrer equation [19,20], as follows: L¼ kλ/βcos(θ); where L is
the crystallite size, k is the Scherrer constant, usually taken as
0.89, λ is the wavelength of the X-ray radiation (1.5418 Å), β is
the full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the diffraction peak
measured at 2θ and θ is the diffraction angle. The lattice strain
of the samples was calculated by the following equation: ε¼ β/
4tan(θ) [20]; where ε is the lattice strain, and β and θ are the
same values used to determine the crystallite size. Infrared
spectroscopy (NICOLET 380 FT-IR) was used to confirm the
elimination of the bismuth nitrate used in the synthesis. The
morphology and particle size were investigated by scanning
electron microscopy using JEOL Instruments model JSM 6490.
The band-gap energy (Eg) was determined by means of the
UV–vis diffuse reflectance absorption spectra of the Bi2O3
samples, which were taken using a Cary 500 UV–vis NIR
spectrophotometer equipped with an integrating sphere. The Eg
value was calculated for direct transition from the UV–vis
spectrum by extrapolating a straight line to the slope of the x-
axis using the following equation: Eg ¼ 1240/λg, where λg is
the wavelength (nm) of the exciting light, and Eg is the band-
gap energy [19]. The BET surface area of the Bi2O3 samples
was determined by adsorption–desorption N2 isotherms using a
BELSORP-mini II surface area and pore size analyzer. The
isotherms were evaluated at  196 1C after degassing the
samples by thermal treatment at 150 1C for 12 h.
2.3. Photocatalytic tests
The photochemical reactor employed in this work consisted of a
glass borosilicate beaker surrounded by a water jacket to maintain
the reaction temperature at 25 1C 71. A 35 W Xe lamp of
6000 K with a luminous flux of 36,000 lux was used as a
simulated sunlight source. The emission spectrum of the Xe lamp
was measured by an Ocean Optics Jaz Spectrometer (see Fig. 1). A
negligible contribution of UV radiation was observed (o390 nm).
The Bi2O3 photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the
degradation reactions of two dyes, rhodamine B (rhB, CAS 81-
88-9) and indigo carmine (IC, CAS 860-22-0), and one
antibiotic, tetracycline hydrochloride (TC, 64-75-5), in aqu-
eous solution. By taking into account the molar extinction
Intensity (a.u.)
a) Xe lamp
b) Xe lamp inside the reactor
c) solar spectrum
200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
Wavelength (nm)
Fig. 1. Emission spectrum of: (a) Xe lamp, (b) Xe lamp inside the reactor
and (c) solar spectrum.
 D. Sánchez-Martínez et al. / Ceramics International 42 (2016) 2013–2020 2015

*
coefficient of the dyes and the antibiotic, the initial concentra-
tions were 5 mg L  1 for rhB, 30 mg L  1 for IC and 20 mg B3U

L  1 for TC. The photocatalytic tests were performed as

follows: 200 mL of organic compound solution containing
B2U

Intensity (a.u.)
200 mg of Bi2O3 powder was added to a glass beaker and then
placed in an ultrasonic bath for 1 min to eliminate aggregates.
*
The solution was then transferred to the photocatalytic reactor. B1U
The solution was kept in the dark for 1 h to ensure that the
adsorption–desorption equilibrium of the organic compound
on the catalyst surface was reached. After this time, the light BCOM
source was turned on. During the reaction, aliquots were taken
from the reactor at different time intervals. The powders were JCPDS 00-071-0465

separated by centrifugation, and the filtered solution was 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

analyzed in a UV–vis spectrophotometer following the proce- 2θ degree
dure established in a previous work [21]. Repeatability tests Fig. 2. X-ray powder diffraction patterns of Bi2O3 samples exposed for 1, 2 or
were performed to evaluate the stability of Bi2O3 oxide. 3 h to ultrasound radiation calcined at 500 1C and the commercial oxide;
The mineralization degree of the organic compounds was * bismuth nitrate traces.
examined by the analysis of the total organic carbon (TOC)
content of the solutions at different irradiation times using a
Table 1
SHIMADZU TOC-VSCH analyzer. For these experiments, Structural and surface characterization of Bi2O3 samples prepared by ultra-
200 mL of the organic compound solution (20 mg L  1 for sound-assisted precipitation with different times of exposure to ultrasound
rhB, 30 mg L  1 for IC and 20 mg L  1 for TC) containing radiation.
200 mg of photocatalyst was used.
Sample Crystallite size (nm) Lattice strain (%) Eg (eV) BET (m2 g  1)

3. Results and discussion BCOM 35 0.412 2.7 0.2

B1U 33 0.439 2.7 1.1
3.1. Structural characterization B2U 39 0.372 2.7 0.4
B3U 21 0.669 2.3 1.6

The obtained powders of Bi2O3 with exposure for 1, 2 or 3 h to

ultrasound radiation were thermally treated at 500 1C. For com-
B3U
parative purposes, commercial Bi2O3 was used (BCOM). The
materials presented a light yellow tinge. The formation of the
Bi2O3 crystalline structure was followed by the X-ray diffraction
Transmittance (a.u.)

pattern. Fig. 2 shows the X-ray diffraction patterns of the Bi2O3 B2U
samples exposed for 1, 2 or 3 h to ultrasound radiation and heated
at 500 1C (hereafter identified as B1U, B2U and B3U, respec-
tively). For all samples, the materials crystallized as the α-Bi2O3 B1U
polymorph with a monoclinic structure, according the JCPDS card
no. 01-071-0465. All samples presented main diffraction peaks
located at 2θ¼ 24.51, 25.71, 26.91, 27.31, 281, 331, 33.21 and 46.31, BCOM
which are typical of the α-Bi2O3 polymorph. However, samples
B1U and B3U had an additional reflection at 2θ¼ 30.71 that
corresponded to bismuth nitrate traces, which in these samples was
4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500
not fully decomposed. It is assumed that longer ultrasound reaction Wavenumber (cm )
time provokes the partial decomposition of the Bi2O3, therefore the
free bismuth react with the ions nitrate, forming bismuth nitrate. Fig. 3. FT-IR spectra of the Bi2O3 samples exposed for 1, 2 or 3 h
to ultrasound radiation and the commercial oxide.
Table 1 shows the crystallite size and lattice strain of the
synthesized samples. The results revealed that the B2U sample
had a higher crystallite size value, which indicates growth of the
crystals and increasing crystallinity. This result was corroborated 500 1C, as well as the commercial Bi2O3. The IR analysis was
by the XRD pattern, where the B2U sample presented more performed with the aim of identifying the impurities observed
narrow peaks of higher intensity and the formation of the pure by XRD in the B1U and B3U samples, i.e., the presence of
phase. When lattice strain decreases, the crystallinity of the samples nitrate traces. In this sense, Fig. 3 shows that only the B1U and
increases [22], and sample B2U presented the lowest value of B3U samples presented additional bands compared to com-
lattice strain. mercial oxide. These bands were located at 1340 and
Fig. 3 shows the FT-IR spectra of the Bi2O3 samples 1390 cm  1 and corresponded to N–O, which can be attributed
exposed for 1, 2 or 3 h to ultrasound radiation and heated at to the NO 3 ion.
2016 D. Sánchez-Martínez et al. / Ceramics International 42 (2016) 2013–2020
Fig. 4. SEM images of Bi2O3 particles synthesized by ultrasound-assisted precipitation with different times of exposure to ultrasound radiation: (a) 1 h, (b) 2 h,
(c) 3 h and (d) commercial oxide.
3.2. SEM morphology analysis
The morphology and particle size of the Bi2O3 samples were
analyzed by SEM. Fig. 4 shows the SEM micrographs of the
samples obtained by ultrasound irradiation for 1, 2 or 3 h and
calcined at 500 1C, in addition to the commercial oxide. When
the oxide was exposed for 1 h to ultrasound radiation,
agglomerated particles were observed with the morphology
of irregular nanoplates, with a thickness of approximately
50 nm and a length of 0.5 mm (see Fig. 4a). On the other hand,
the samples synthesized with 2 h of ultrasound radiation
presented a change in morphology to ovoid nanoplates, with
a more homogeneous and smooth surface and a thickness of
approximately 50 nm and length of 200 nm, as shown in Fig.
4b. The samples obtained with 3 h in the ultrasonic bath
presented a similar morphology to those exposed for 1 h but
with a more defined shape and a larger particle size, i.e.,
mainly rectangular nanoplates with a thickness of approxi-
mately 80 nm and a length above 1 mm (see Fig. 4c). The
commercial sample had particles with a rod shape with a
thickness of approximately 3 mm and a length of 5–10 mm, as
shown in Fig. 4d, which is different from the samples
synthesized by ultrasound.
Therefore, we can conclude that with the increase of
exposure to the ultrasound radiation, the Bi2O3 samples
presented a similar morphology of nanoplates with a change
of shape in the following order: irregular to ovoid to
rectangular (see Fig. 5). The sample exposed for 2 h in the
ultrasonic bath had the smallest particle size and a more
homogeneous morphology.
3.3. Band-gap energy and BET surface area analysis
The optical properties of the Bi2O3 samples (B1U, B2U and
B3U) and commercial oxide were analyzed using UV–vis
diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Table 1 shows the band-gap
energy (Eg) values of the samples. The Eg values were within
the range reported in the literature (i.e., 2.3–2.7 eV [9,10]) and
were similar to the Eg value of commercial oxide.
The specific surface areas of the Bi2O3 samples measured by
the BET method are also included in Table 1. All of the
synthesized samples had a higher surface area value than
commercial Bi2O3. The specific surface area value obtained for
all samples was low, at 2 m2 g  1. All samples presented a type
II isotherm (i.e., typical behavior of a material that is not
porous, according to the classification previously establish for
adsorption–desorption isotherm [23]).
Therefore, these experiments revealed that the textural
properties, such as the specific surface area of the Bi2O3
samples, were not influenced by the varying of time exposure
in an ultrasonic bath during the synthesis. A similar effect was
observed in the optical properties. In contrast, significant
differences were observed in the morphology properties with
varying exposure time to ultrasound radiation.
3.4. Evaluation of photocatalytic activity
The photocatalytic activity of Bi2O3 samples was evaluated for
the degradation reactions of rhB, IC and TC in water under a
6000 K Xe lamp as the radiation source. Fig. 6 shows the temporal
 D. Sánchez-Martínez et al. / Ceramics International 42 (2016) 2013–2020
Aqueous media
BiN O ·5H O Precursor
Fig. 5. Schematic representation of the formation of Bi2O3 particles exposed for 1, 2 or 3 h to ultrasound radiation.
1 1
0.8
0.6
C/Co rhB
0.4
Without photocatalyst
BCOM
B1U
0.2
B2U
B3U
0 0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Time (minutes)
Fig. 6. Photocatalytic degradation of rhB (5 mg L  1) under simulated sunlight
irradiation by Bi2O3 synthesized under different experimental conditions; a Xe
lamp was used as a simulated sunlight source, pH 6.0. The concentration of
rhB was determined through its maximum absorption band (554 nm).
degradation of rhodamine B (5 mg L  1) with different synthesized
Bi2O3 samples used as photocatalysts. After 180 min of Xe lamp
irradiation, all of the samples bleached the rhB solution to a large
degree. The best photocatalytic activity was shown by the B2U
sample, i.e., the sample that presented the highest crystallinity,
smallest particle size and more homogeneous morphology. There-
fore, the activity could be attributed to the high crystallinity of the
B2U sample because high crystallinity results in a reduced number
of defects and prevents the recombination of electron–hole pairs. In
the same way, other factors that favor the photocatalytic activity of
the B2U sample include its smaller particle size and more
homogeneous morphology because minimizing the size of the
photocatalyst particles can maximize the number of active sites,
causing an increase in photocatalytic performance.
Fig. 7 shows the photocatalytic activity of the Bi2O3 samples for
the degradation of IC (30 mg L  1) by Xe lamp irradiation. All
synthesized samples presented better activity than the commercial
oxide. After of 180 min of exposure to Xe lamp radiation, the
B1U, B2U and B3U samples bleached the IC solution nearly
100%. The sample that presented the best photocatalytic activity
2017
1U-500°C
2U-500°C
3U-500°C
Bi O nanoplates
0.8 Without photocatalyst
BCOM
B1U
B2U
0.6
C/Co IC
B3U
0.4
0.2
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Time (minutes)
Fig. 7. Photocatalytic degradation of IC (30 mg L  1) under simulated sunlight
irradiation by Bi2O3 synthesized under different experimental conditions; a Xe
lamp was used as a simulated sunlight source, pH 6.0. The concentration of IC
was determined through its maximum absorption band (610 nm).
was B2U, which is similar to the findings in the evolution of the
concentration of rhB. Therefore these results we can conclude that
in the degradation of indigo carmine and rhodamine B, the IC has
a discoloration less time because it suffers the attack by radicals
formed in the photocatalytic process breaking its chromophore
group, which is responsible of its coloration [24]. Nevertheless,
mineralization becomes slow in concordance with the proposed
mechanism by Vautier et al. [25], where it is observed that amino
groups and nitro groups bonded to a benzene group, which may be
competing in the oxidation processes to transform an amino group,
forming a nitro group. While in the case of the rhB a fully de-
ethylated rhB molecule occurs causing that the color of the solution
disappears, indicating that the chromophore structure of the dye
was destroyed [26,27], which occurs slowly.
The evolution of the concentration of TC (20 mg L  1) in
presence of the Bi2O3 samples used as photocatalysts under Xe
lamp irradiation is shown in the Fig. 8. The synthesized samples
presented better activity than BCOM, with the exception of the
sample B3U, with a percentage of degradation of approximately
50% after of 180 min of exposure to the Xe lamp. For B1U and
B2U, the percentages of degradation were similar at approximately
2018 D. Sánchez-Martínez et al. / Ceramics International 42 (2016) 2013–2020

65%. However, B2U had the best photocatalytic activity. On the degradation of rhB, IC and TC is possible when Bi2O3 synthesized
other hand, it seems that the degradation reaction of TC stop at by ultrasound-assisted precipitation is used as a photocatalyst, and
60 min, however degradation continues but it is more slowly as B2U presented the best photocatalytic activity.
shown in Figs. 8 and 9c. This is due to intermediary products that Fig. 9 shows the UV–vis absorption spectra of rhB, IC and
form the TC structure during its degradation, which become more TC solutions when being photodegraded by B2U. The UV–vis
complex [28]. Therefore, these experiments revealed that the absorption spectra of the three pollutants decreased over the
time in the ultraviolet and visible regions. This decrease may
1 be indirectly caused by a direct attack on the aromatic rings of
its molecules [29], which leads to the breaking of the bonds
0.8 and provokes the complete decomposition into small organic/
inorganic molecules and/or ion products [30]. However,
0.6 aromatic ring of the organic molecules remains even after
C/C oTC

4 h of reaction; this is due to the intermediary products that are

0.4 generated during the degradation of the organic contaminants
Without photocatalyst [25,27,28], which are difficult to decompose after this time.
BCOM
0.2 B1U
To determine if the mineralization of organic compounds by
B2U Bi2O3 exposed under Xe lamp irradiation is feasible, total organic
B3U
0 carbon (TOC) content during the photocatalytic test for the
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 degradation reactions of rhB, IC and TC (see Fig. 10) was
Time (minutes) performed. For these experiments, the sample with the highest
photocatalytic activity (B2U) was used as the photocatalyst. After
Fig. 8. Photocatalytic degradation of TC (20 mg L  1) under simulated sun-
light irradiation by Bi2O3 synthesized under different experimental conditions;
24 h under Xe lamp irradiation, the mineralization degree was
a Xe lamp was used as a simulated sunlight source, pH 6.0. The concentration approximately 40% for rhB, 13% for IC and 72% for TC.
of TC was determined through its maximum absorption band (357 nm). Therefore, Bi2O3 synthesized by ultrasound-assisted precipitation

1 2

0.8 1.6 0
0
Absorbance (a.u.)
Absorbance (a.u.)

30
30
60
0.6 60 1.2
90 90

120 120
0.4 0.8 150
150
180 180
0.2 0.4

0 0
200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700
Wevelength (nm) Wavelength (nm)

0.8 0
Absorbance (a.u.)

30
60
0.6
90
120
0.4 150
180
0.2

0
200 250 300 350 400 450 500
Wavelength (nm)

Fig. 9. Variation of the UV–vis absorption spectra of: (a) rhodamine B, (b) indigo carmine and (c) tetracycline in presence of the sample that exhibited the best
photocatalytic activity (B2U).
 D. Sánchez-Martínez et al. / Ceramics International 42 (2016) 2013–2020
100
TOC (% Mineralization)
80
60
40
20
0
0 2.5 5 7.5 10 12.5 15 17.5
Time (hours)
Fig. 10. Variation of the TOC during the mineralization of rhB, IC and TC by
using B2U catalyst under simulated sunlight irradiation; pH 6.0.
method can be used as a photocatalyst to provoke a considerable
mineralization degree of organic pollutants. These results were
associated with the UV–vis absorption spectra previously explained,
where it was observed that Bi2O3 is feasible for the partial
degradation of rhB, IC and almost the complete degradation of
TC. These results confirm that it is feasible to break the bonds of
organic compounds (rhB, IC and TC) during the photo-
catalytic tests.
4. Conclusions
Bi2O3 powders with monoclinic structure were successfully
synthesized by ultrasound-assisted precipitation method with
varied times of exposure to ultrasound radiation. The largest
crystallite size and lowest lattice strain were obtained in the
B2U sample, i.e., the sample with the highest crystallinity. The
Bi2O3 samples exposed to ultrasound radiation (1, 2 or 3 h)
presented a similar morphology of nanoplates in the following
order: irregular to ovoid to rectangular, respectively. The
specific surface area of the Bi2O3 samples was not influenced
by the varying exposure time in the ultrasonic bath during
synthesis. In contrast, significant differences were observed in
the morphology properties with varying exposure time. The
highest photocatalytic activity was found for the B2U sample,
i.e., the sample with the highest crystallinity, smallest particle
size and more homogeneous morphology. Therefore, the
photocatalytic activity of Bi2O3 was attributed to the crystal-
linity, particle size and the morphology of rectangular nano-
plates. After 24 h under Xe lamp irradiation, the mineralization
degree of organic dyes and the antibiotic was: 40% for rhB,
13% for IC and 72% for TC. These results indicate the
potential of Bi2O3 synthesized by ultrasound-assisted precipi-
tation method as a good candidate for use as an effective
photocatalyst in the removal of organic dyes and antibiotics.
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank to the Universidad Autónoma de
Nuevo León (UANL) for its invaluable support through the
2019
project PAICYT 2015; CONACYT, for support of Project CB-
IC
rhB
2013-01 Clave: 220802 and SEP, for support of project PIFI
2014 Apoyo al CA-UANL-244.
TC
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