γ-Bi2MoO6 nanoplates: Surfactant-assisted hydrothermal synthesis and optical properties

γ-Bismuth molybdate (Bi2MoO6) nanoplates were successfully fabricated on a large scale at 180 °C for 12 h by one-step hydrothermal method with the use of surfactant poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP). X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the product, and the results indicated that as-prepared Bi2MoO6 product had a typical plate-like structure with a thickness range of 100–150 nm. UV–vis spectroscopy was employed to estimate the band gap energy of γ-Bi2MoO6 nanoplates, and it exhibited significant absorption from the visible region to near infrared region, in addition to the absorption band in the UV region. The method provides a facile, one-step and low-cost route for the synthesis of nanostructures of multicomponent metal oxides with potential optical applications.