Growth Process and CQDs-modified Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ Square Plates with Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance

Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ square plates were synthesized via a hydrothermal route, and their growth process was systematically investigated. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were prepared using glucose as the carbon source, which were then assembled on the surface of Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ square plates via a hydrothermal route with the aim of enhancing the photocatalytic performance. XRD (X-ray powder diffraction), SEM (scanning electron microscopy), TEM (transmission electron microscopy), UV-vis DRS (diffuse reflectance spectroscopy), XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), PL (photoluminescence) spectroscopy, EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) and photocurrent spectroscopy were used to systematically characterize the as-prepared samples. It is demonstrated that the decoration of CQDs on Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ plates leads to an increased visible light absorption, slightly increased bandgap, increased photocurrent density, decreased charge-transfer resistance, and decreased PL intensity. Simulated sunlight and visible light were separately used as a light source to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of the samples toward the degradation of RhB in aqueous solution. Under both simulated sunlight and visible light irradiation, CQDs@Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ composites with an appropriate amount of CQDs exhibit obviously enhanced photocatalytic performance. However, the decoration of excessive CQDs gives rise to a decrease in the photocatalytic activity. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of CQDs-modified Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ can be attributed to the following reasons: (1) The electron transfer between Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ and CQDs promotes an efficient separation of photogenerated electron/hole pairs in Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂; (2) the up-conversion photoluminescence emitted from CQDs could induce the generation of additional electron/hole pairs in Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂; and (3) the photoexcited electrons in CQDs could participate in the photocatalytic reactions.