Phase control synthesis of α, β and α/β BiO hetero-junction with enhanced and synergistic photocatalytic activity on degradation of toxic dye, Rhodamine-B under natural sunlight.

Nano particles of a few α/β BiO hetero-junctions of various compositions synthesized by one- pot hydrothermal method, exhibit exceptional and synergistic photo-catalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine-B in aqueous solution under natural sunlight. Pure α and pure β BiO are also synthesized by control post heating of synthesized hetero-junction. The nano-materials were characterized by diffraction (XRD), microscopic and spectroscopic techniques.