Hydrothermal Synthesis of Disk-Like Bi₂WO₆-BiPO₄ Heterojunctions and Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance for Rhodamine B Degradation (cited: 1)

Novel Bi₂WO₆-BiPO₄ photocatalysts with heterojunction structure were fabricated through a facile hydrothermal route. The photocatalytic properties of Bi₂WO₆-BiPO₄ composites were evaluated by photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (Rh B) under simulated sunlight irradiation. The results showed that Bi₂WO₆-BiPO₄ photocatalysts displayed much higher photocatalytic performances for Rh B degradation than the single BiPO₄ and Bi₂WO₆. The best photocatalytic activity of Bi₂WO₆-BiPO₄ with nearly 100% Rh B degradation located at molar ratio of 1:1 after 20 min irradiation. The enhanced photo-catalytic performance could be mainly ascribed to the formation of heterojunction interface in Bi₂WO₆-BiPO₄ which facilitated the transfer and separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, as well as the strong visible light absorption originating from the sensitization role of Bi₂WO₆ to BiPO₄. It was also found that the photodegradation of Rh B molecules was mainly attributed to the oxidation action of the generated ₂· ^- radicals and partly to the action of h⁺ vb via direct hole oxidation process.