Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B Dye by Bi2MoO6 Microspheres under Natural Sunlight Irradation

Abstract

Removal of dyes from water bodies is a significant concern throughout the world. In this study, Bi2MoO6 microspheres were synthesized by a hydrothermal synthetic route at 180°C, and it is effectively characterized by various techniques. The XRD peaks confirmed the orthorhombic planes of Bi2MoO6. The microsphere-like morphology was revealed by FESEM and HRTEM. The optical band gap was investigated by UV-vis DRS and showed a reflection edge with corresponding energy at 2.68 eV. The photocatalytic activity of the Bi2MoO6 microsphere is tested against the degradation of rhodamine B under natural sunlight irradiation. About 90% degradation of rhodamine B is observed in 90 min with the photocatalytic degradation rate of 0.038min-1. Results confirmed that the Bi2MoO6microspherecould facilitate 90% degradation of RhB dye and followed the first-order kinetic model.