Hierarchical Bi₂MoO₆ nanosheet-built frameworks with excellent photocatalytic properties

Herein, we demonstrate for the first time the fabrication of one-dimensional (1D) Bi2MoO6 inter-crossed nanosheet-built frameworks by using MoO3 nanobelts as the growth templates and molybdate source. Especially, this novel Bi2MoO6 framework structure exhibits remarkably enhanced photocatalytic activity toward the degradation of organic dyes under visible-light irradiation, far exceeding that of conventional Bi2MoO6 nanoplates and nanoparticles. The photoelectrochemical study suggests that the hierarchical framework structure could facilitate the photoinduced charge separation and transfer from the inter-crossed Bi2MoO6 nanosheets, which may make a significant contribution to the enhanced photocatalytic activity.