Photocatalytic properties of bismuth titanate Bi12TiO20 prepared by co-precipitation processing

A visible-light-active photocatalyst Bi12TiO20 with sillenite structure was prepared by a simple co-precipitation method. The spectrum of UV–vis absorption indicated that the absorption edge of the Bi12TiO20 was at 450 nm, corresponding to the band gap energy of 2.75 eV. The prepared Bi12TiO20 showed high photocatalytic activity for the degradation of phenol in water either under UV (300 nm < λ < 400 nm) or visible light (λ > 400 nm) irradiation. The photodegradation experiments of phenol indicated that the prepared photocatalyst calcined at 550 °C had the best photocatalytic activity.