Preparation, characterization and enhanced visible light photocatalytic activities of polyaniline/Bi3NbO7 nanocomposites

Polyaniline/Bi3NbO7 nanocomposites were successfully prepared by a simple chemisorption approach. Their particle sizes ranged from 25 to 50 nm. The photocatalytic activities of the as-prepared samples for the rhodamine B degradation were evaluated under visible light (420 nm <= lambda <= 760 nm). The results indicated that the samples exhibited excellent photocatalytic activities and high activity stabilities for the degradation of rhodamine B. When the loading amount of polyaniline was 4 wt%, the obtained sample showed the highest photocatalytic activity. Its photocatalytic activity was also much higher than that of the reference sample (TiO2-xNx powders). On the basis of the experimental results, photo-generated holes were detected as the main oxidation species responsible for the decomposition of rhodamine B over polyaniline/Bi3NbO7. Furthermore, the enhanced photocatalytic activity was mainly ascribed to the synergetic effect between polyaniline and Bi3NbO7. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.