Selective solution-phase synthesis of BiOCl, BiVO4 and δ-Bi2O3 nanocrystals in the reaction system of BiCl3-NH4VO3-NaOH

In this study, we demonstrate a straightforward solution-phase method for the selective synthesis of BiOCl, BiVO4 and delta-Bi2O3 nanocrystals by simply manipulating the reaction temperature and the BiCl3-to-NaOH mole ratio in the reaction system of BiCl3-NH4VO3-NaOH. The experimental results revealed that BiOCl, as the sole product, was prepared when designating the reaction temperature ranging from room temperature to 100 degrees C, regardless of the BiCl3-to-NaOH mole ratio; on the other hand, BiOCl, BiVO4, and delta-Bi2O3 nanocrystals could be selectively prepared at 140-180 degrees C, depending on the BiCl3-to-NaOH mole ratio in solution. Significantly, we first report on fabricating delta-Bi2O3 sample, the high-temperature cubic phase commonly stabilized at 730-824 degrees C, at the low reaction temperature of 140-180 degrees C under solution-phase synthetic conditions. In addition, the delta-Bi2O3 sample exhibits strong emission at room temperature. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.