Rapid microwave-assisted synthesis of Bi2O3 tubes and photocatalytic properties for antibiotics

Bismuth oxide (Bi₂O₃) nanotubes have been successfully synthesised via a rapid microwave-assisted synthetic method for the first time. A wide range of techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence were applied to characterise the obtained Bi₂O₃ tubes. Moreover, the photocatalytic properties of Bi₂O₃ in the degeneration of antibiotics, especially tetracycline (TC) and ciprofloxacin (CIP), were studied. In addition, it was found that it has better photocatalytic effect in degeneration of TC compared with CIP. Therefore this study is necessary and significant for further study of Bi₂O₃.