Characterization of bismuth oxide catalysts prepared from bismuth trinitrate pentahydrate: influence of bismuth concentration

Bi2O3 catalysts have been prepared via precipitation method by using Bi(NO3)3·5H2O as a starting material and NaOH as the precipitating agent. The influence of bismuth concentration on the formation of Bi2O3 nanocrystals was investigated by using XRD, BET, FTIR, SEM and H2-TPR. Low bismuth concentration, resulted in high surface area material with small size crystallite (∼36 nm). It also enhanced the oxide reducibility with high reduction activity. XRD patterns of all the samples display pure α-Bi2O3 phase. The SEM images showed the nanostructure of Bi2O3 were non-agglomerated needles.