Layered Bi2MoO6/LDH hetero-structured composites with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity

Series of Bi2MoO6/NiAl-LDH hetero-junction photocatalysts were synthesized by a two-step hydrothermal method with a self-assembled process. It indicated that the in-situ intercalated NiAl-LDH showed a tight contact with Bi2MoO6 layers and thus exhibited the rapid transfer of photogenerated electrons on the interface. The photocatalytic performance was evaluated by the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. The resulted Bi2MoO6/NiAl-LDH sample showed a higher visible-light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of RhB than any single component. The optimal LDH content in Bi2MoO6/NiAl-LDH is 15% with the degradation efficiency for more than 90% during 60 min. The excessive amount of NiAl-LDH in Bi2MoO6/NiAl-LDH could reduce the light absorption efficiency of Bi2MoO6 and thus affected the generation of photoinduced electron–hole pairs. The enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability of Bi2MoO6/NiAl-LDH was attributed to the synergistic effects of the introduction of narrow band-gap NiAl-LDH and the construction of layered hetero-junction. Our synthetic method of self-assembly sheets has certain guided significance for the synthesis and application of other photocatalysts.