Facile synthesis of Bi4.15Nd0.85Ti3FeO15 photocatalysts with high photocatalytic activity

Abstract Aurivillius-type Bi4.15Nd0.85Ti3FeO15 photocatalysts were synthesized by sol–gel process and employed for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB). The Bi4.15Nd0.85Ti3FeO15 exhibited bandgap of 2.13 eV with high photocatalytic activity. About 99% and 86% of RhB were photodegraded within 30 min under simulated sunlight and homemade LED lamp irradiation at the optimized pH = 2.2 of reaction solution. No negligible decline of degradation efficiency was observed after five cycling uses. Scavenger trapping experiments demonstrated that both the O2− and h+ radicals were mainly responsible for the RhB degradation. This work provides an efficient and stable Aurivillius-type photocatalysts for RhB degradation in wastewater.