Synthesis of Bismuth Oxide Nanoparticles by a Templating Method and its Photocatalytic Performance

Abstract

A diblock copolymer template of nonbornene derivatives was employed to prepare Bi2O3 nanoparticles. The precursor formed within the nano-size micelles of diblock copolymer after introducing BiCl3 into the template. The precursor was calcined to produce Bi2O3 nano particles, XRD and TEM show that these nanoparticles are the α-Bi2O3 phase and have an average size from 10 to 30 nm. The photocatalytic performance of Bi2O3 particles has been tested in the degradation of methyl orange solution at visible light condition.