Visible light responsive Ni-doped micro/nanostructured Bi2O3 microspheres for photocatalytic denitrification of fuel oil

The title microspheres were synthesized by a parallel flow precipitation process using Bi(NO₃)₃·5H₂O, Ni(NO₃)₂·6H₂O and (NH₄)₂CO₃. The crystalline phase of Ni-doped Bi₂O₃ gradually changed from a-Bi₂O₃ to b-Bi₂O₃, and its morphology varied from irregular chips to the self-assembly microspheres and microflowers when Ni was introduced into Bi₂O₃. The microspheres doped with 3 at% Ni exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity in the photodegradation of pyridine than that of pure Bi₂O₃.