<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

To broaden the light response range of TiO2 and improve its photocatalytic activity, BiOCl/TiO2/MMT composite materials (BTMC) with outstanding photocatalytic performance were prepared by the sol-gel method with montmorillonite (MMT) as the supporting material, tetrabutyl titanate as titanium source and, bismuth nitrate pentahydrate as the bismuth source. The properties of the prepared materials were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), surface and porosity analysis (BET), scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS), and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS). When the Bi/Ti molar ratio was 20%, the composite material exhibited a slit mesoporous structure, and its specific surface area was 109.02 m2/g, with optimum photocatalytic activity. TiO2 and BiOCl formed the type-II heterojunction on the surface of MMT, which facilitates the transfer of photogenerated electrons and holes, thus enhancing the photocatalytic activity of BTMC-20. The results of this study indicated that BTMC-20 is a promising photocatalytic composite material and has better photocatalytic properties under visible light.
</abstract>

To broaden the light response range of TiO2 and improve its photocatalytic activity, BiOCl/TiO2/MMT composite materials (BTMC) with outstanding photocatalytic performance were prepared by the sol-gel method with montmorillonite (MMT) as the supporting material, tetrabutyl titanate as titanium source and, bismuth nitrate pentahydrate as the bismuth source. The properties of the prepared materials were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), surface and porosity analysis (BET), scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS), and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS). When the Bi/Ti molar ratio was 20%, the composite material exhibited a slit mesoporous structure, and its specific surface area was 109.02 m2/g, with optimum photocatalytic activity. TiO2 and BiOCl formed the type-II heterojunction on the surface of MMT, which facilitates the transfer of photogenerated electrons and holes, thus enhancing the photocatalytic activity of BTMC-20. The results of this study indicated that BTMC-20 is a promising photocatalytic composite material and has better photocatalytic properties under visible light.

Preparation and characterization of BiOCl/TiO2/MMT composite materials

Materials Science-Poland

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Preparation and characterization of BiOCl/TiO/MMT composite materials

To broaden the light response range of TiO2 and improve its photocatalytic activity, BiOCl/TiO2/MMT composite materials (BTMC) with outstanding photocatalytic...

Materials	Specific surface area (m²/g)	Mean aperture (nm)
MMT	39.20	19.84
TiO₂	6.09	18.43
BiOCl	0.59	14.01
TMC	97.46	11.05
BTMC-20	109.02	9.52

Preparation and characterization of BiOCl/TiO₂/MMT composite materials

Published Online: Nov 24, 2023

Page range: 354 - 367

Received: Jul 01, 2023

Accepted: Sep 22, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/msp-2023-0025

Keywords
MMT, TiO, BiOCl, composite material, photocatalytic activity

© 2023 Biyang Tuo et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 4.

Fig. 5.

Fig. 6.

Fig. 7.

Fig. 8.

Fig. 9.

BET test data of materials

Chemical compositions of MMT (wt.%)

Preparation and characterization of BiOCl/TiO2/MMT composite materials

Published Online: Nov 24, 2023

Page range: 354 - 367

Received: Jul 01, 2023

Accepted: Sep 22, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/msp-2023-0025

KeywordsMMT, TiO, BiOCl, composite material, photocatalytic activity

© 2023 Biyang Tuo et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 4.

Fig. 5.

Fig. 6.

Fig. 7.

Fig. 8.

Fig. 9.

BET test data of materials

Chemical compositions of MMT (wt.%)

Preparation and characterization of BiOCl/TiO₂/MMT composite materials

Keywords
MMT, TiO, BiOCl, composite material, photocatalytic activity