Preparation, characterization, and enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity of AgI/Bi2WO6 composite

• AgI/Bi2WO6 was synthesized using a deposition–precipitation method.
• AgI/Bi2WO6 displays better photocatalytic activity than AgI and Bi2WO6.
• Good visible-light photocatalytic activity is based on electron–hole separation between AgI and Bi2WO6.

In this study, a series of AgI/Bi2WO6 heterojunction photocatalysts were synthesized with deposition–precipitation method. The photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The photocatalysts exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity on the RhB dye degradation under visible-light irradiation. The 58.5% AgI/Bi2WO6 sample was observed to have the highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency. Based on the calculated energy band positions, the mechanism of enhanced photocatalytic activity was discussed.