Synthesis of N-Doped Bi2O3 and Its Excellent Visible Light Photocatalytic Performance for the Degradation of 17β-Estradiol

N-doped Bi2O3 with hierarchical structure was synthesized using precipitation/calcination method. In this method, ethylenediamine was used as both the nitrogen source and morphology controller besides the P123 triblock copolymer as main structure directing agent, to control the texture and morphology of the catalyst. The microstructure and chemical composition of N-doped Bi2O3 photocatalyst were characterized with XRD, XPS, SEM-EDS, DR UV-vis, and N2 physisorption. The prepared hierarchical N-doped Bi2O3 was used for the photocatalytic degradation of 17β-estradiol (E2) under visible light. The absorption edge of prepared N doped Bi2O3 appeared an obvious red shift comparing with pure phase Bi2O3. This would help photocatalyst make full use of light source to degrade E2. Under the same conditions of the photocatalytic reaction, the rate constant of degradation of E2 over N-doped Bi2O3 was 6.3 times of that obtained over Bi2O3. The stability of N-doped Bi2O3 and the mechanism of the photocatalytic degradation of E2 under visible light were studied.