Bi-nanoparticle-decorated BiPO 4 nanorods with improved photocatalytic activity

Bi-nanoparticle-decorated BiPO 4 (Bi/BiPO 4 ) hybrid nanorods were successfully fabricated through a redox process using BiPO 4 nanorods and N 2 H 4 ·H 2 O as self-sacrificing template and reducing agent, respectively. It was revealed that the reduction extent of BiPO 4 can be easily controlled via manipulating the N 2 H 4 ·H 2 O concentration in the reaction solution. Loading Bi nanoparticles on BiPO 4 nanorods can remarkably broaden the light absorption range and boost the photogenerated charge carrier separation. As a result, Bi/BiPO 4 nanorods exhibited a superior photocatalytic activity for degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) molecules under simulated sunlight illumination, as compared with the bare BiPO 4 . The superior photocatalytic performance of Bi/BiPO 4 should be mainly attributed to the synergistic effects, including the extended light response range and enhanced charge separation. The possible charge transfer pathway and photocatalytic mechanism of the Bi/BiPO 4 nanorods were also discussed. The present work may provide a convenient strategy to improve the photocatalytic performance of BiPO 4 catalysts for environmental purification.