Synthesis and photocatalytic property of lead molybdate dendrites with exposed (0 0 1) facet

PbMoO4 dendrites have been synthesized by the composite molten salt method at 180 °C. The dendritic plane is exposed on (0 0 1) facet. PbMoO4 dendritic crystals exhibited high photocatalytic activity through the degradation of rhodamine B under the irradiation of the simulated sunlight, mainly due to the exposed facet (0 0 1). The (0 0 1) facet is assumed to provide more multi-atomic centers (PbMo4), which are the origin of the active sites for hydrophilicity and adsorption of O2 and the cause of the high photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic activity of the PbMoO4 dendrites was also compared with those of the conventional catalysts, P25 (21 nm) and TiO2 nanoparticles (50–200 nm).