Structural, Optical and Photocatalytic Properties of Bi2O3/Mn3O4 Nanocomposites

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This research aims to develop binary Bi2O3/Mn3O4 heterostructures for the mineralization of pollutants in water. For this purpose, pure Bi2O3, Mn3O4, and Bi2O3/Mn3O4 nanocomposite samples are synthesized. Structural analysis exhibits the formation of a mixed‐phase solid oxide solution. This is verified via FTIR spectroscopy where an additional peak observed at 723 cm−1 indicating Bi─O─Mn stretching vibration. The binary Bi2O3/Mn3O4 nanocomposite has increased visible light absorption and narrow bandgap when compared to pure Bi2O3. The synthesized Bi2O3/Mn3O4 nanocomposite exhibits 76.4% degradation of methylene Blue (MB) under solar light irradiation with a pseudo‐first‐order rate constant of 0.00572 min−1 superior to pure Bi2O3 and Mn3O4 nanoparticles. This significant increase in the photocatalytic activity of Bi2O3/Mn3O4 nanocomposite is due to the direct z‐scheme mechanism of charge transfer between Bi2O3 and Mn3O4 through greater redox potential and generation of surface defects that induce additional active sites for the adsorption of organic dye which trap photoinduced electrons and holes resulting a reduction in electron–hole recombination rate.