Fabrication and efficient visible light-induced photocatalytic activity of Bi2WO6/BiVO4 heterojunction

The Bi2WO6/BiVO4 photocatalyst with heterojunction structure was synthesized. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images indicated that Bi2WO6 nanoplate was loaded on the BiVO4 surface. UV–vis diffusion absorption spectra (DRS) displayed no obvious difference between the band gap absorption edges of the BiVO4 and Bi2WO6/BiVO4. It was found that the phenol degradation rate with Bi2WO6/BiVO4 was 2.55 times as great as that with the BiVO4 under visible light (λ > 400 nm) by the photocatalytic measurements. The enhanced photocatalytic performance of the Bi2WO6/BiVO4 sample was attributed to the improved separation efficiency of photogenerated hole–electron pairs generated by the heterojunction between Bi2WO6 and BiVO4.

► The Bi2WO6/BiVO4 photocatalyst with heterojunction structure was synthesized.
► Bi2WO6/BiVO4 showed better photocatalytic performance than BiVO4 under visible light.
► The improved separation rate of h+ and e− leaded to the enhanced photocatalytic ability.