Controlled synthesis, growth mechanism and highly efficient solar photocatalysis of nitrogen-doped bismuth subcarbonate hierarchical nanosheets architectures

The synthesis and self-assembly of hierarchical architectures from nanoscale building blocks with unique morphology, orientation and dimension have opened up new opportunities to enhance their functional performances and remain a great challenge. This work represents tunable synthesis of various types of 3D monodisperse in situ N-doped (BiO)₂CO₃ hierarchical architectures composed of 2D single-crystal nanosheets with dominant (001) facets by a one-pot template-free hydrothermal method from bismuth citrate and ammonia solution. Depending on the concentration of ammonia solution, the morphology of N-doped (BiO)₂CO₃, including dandelion-like, hydrangea-like and peony flower-like microspheres, can be selectively constructed due to different self-assembly patterns of nanosheets. It was revealed that the ammonia played dual roles in the formation of N-doped (BiO)₂CO₃ architectures. One is to hydrolyze bismuth citrate, and the other is to behave as a nitrogen doping source. The in situ doped nitrogen substituted for oxygen in (BiO)₂CO₃ and subsequently narrowed the band gap, making N-doped (BiO)₂CO₃ visible light active. Due to the special nanosheets architectures, the prepared various N-doped (BiO)₂CO₃ materials exhibited especially efficient photocatalytic activity and high durability for the removal of NO in air under both visible and UV light irradiation. Based on the direct observation of the growth process with respect to phase structure, chemical composition and morphological structure, a novel growth mechanism is revealed, which involves a unique multistep pathway, including reaction–nucleation, aggregation, crystallization, dissolution–recrystallization, and Ostwald ripening. The facile synthesis approach and the proposed growth mechanism could provide new insights into the design and controlled synthesis of inorganic hierarchical materials with new or enhanced properties. Copyright © 2012 The Royal Society of Chemistry.