Production of nanopowders of bismuth oxide doped with silver by pulsed electron beam evaporation in vacuum

Various bismuth containing compounds are promising in many applications, including for creating photocatalysts based on them using a visible range of light. However, strong polymorphism (9 polymophic phases of Bi₂O₃), thermal instability and changes in the properties of bismuth oxide during long-term storage significantly complicate work with it. One way to increase stability and improve photocatalytic properties is by doping Bi₂O₃with various metals. Ag doped Bi₂O₃nanoparticles (NPs) are typically produced using chemical techniques often associated with the presence of toxic chemicals. The present paper used an environmentally friendly method of producing NPs using the method of pulsed electron beam evaporation in vacuum. The evaporation target was obtained by solid phase synthesis in an electric furnace on air using silver nitrate additives (1 and 5 wt.%). Textural, thermal and magnetic properties of the obtained NPs have been studied. Was found that the Ag-Bi₂O₃NPs have a specific surface area (SSA) of 23.7 m²/g, which was almost 2 times bigger than the SSA of the pure Bi₂O₃(13.2 m²/g) obtained previously. The thermal stability of the Ag-doped Bi₂O₃samples was maintained to the temperature 350°C. While further heating on air took place the phase transitionβ → α