Design of polyoxometallate-titania composite film (H3PW12O40/TiO2) for the degradation of an aqueous dye Rhodamine B under the simulated sunlight irradiation

► A series of H3PW12O40/TiO2 composite films were prepared by a single sol-gel-hydrothermal route. ► The composite films exhibited higher simulated sunlight photocatalytic activity towards Rhodamine B. ► The factors that influenced the RhB photocatalytic degradation were investigated. ► The H3PW12O40/TiO2 composite film can maintain the same activity level after three photocatalytic cycles without applying any separation step.