Eu3+ doped Bi2MoO6 nanosheets fabricated via hydrothermal-calcination route and their superior performance for aqueous volatile phenols removal

Abstract (1) Background The discharge of volatile phenols, e.g., phenol, 2-methyl phenol, 3-methyl phenol, and 4-methyl phenol, into the aquatic system represents a main source of environmental contamination due to their high toxicity. Detoxication of phenol molecules from polluted water through photocatalytic degradation process is reported to be a mild and effective technology. (2) Methods In this study, to effectively remove these aqueous volatile phenols, a powerful photocatalyst, namely Eu3+doped Bi2MoO6 nanosheets, was prepared via a hydrothermal-calcination process. The novel Eu3+doped Bi2MoO6 nanosheets were characterized by XRD, BET, SEM, TEM, XPS, UV–vis DRS, FT-IR, PL and photoelectricity test. Under xenon lamp light illumination, Eu/Bi2MoO6 was used to degrade the volatile phenols. (3) Significant findings The results showed that the doping of Eu3+ into Bi2MoO6 crystals induced a distortion of Bi2MoO6 lattice and a decrease in crystalline grain size. Eu3+ doping also reduced the energy gap of Bi2MoO6 and increased its UV–Vis light absorption. Moreover, the doped Eu3+could act as electron traps to decrease the recombination rate of the e−/h+ pairs. The doping of Eu3+ with optimum content (ཞ2% molar ratio of Eu3+ to Bi3+) gave a rise two times increase in activity for phenols decomposition.