Photoelectrochemical properties of thin Bi2WO6 films

Thin Bi2WO6 film prepared from an amorphous heteronuclear complex via dip-coating method is investigated as a visible light-driven photoelectrode material. Photoelectrochemical properties of the resultant film are investigated on the basis of linear sweep voltammetry and current–time curves, and conduction and valence band edges of the film electrode are determined from the photocurrent voltage response. Anodic photocurrent associated with the oxidation of water is obtained under visible light irradiation. Furthermore, the film as a photoanode can degrade rhodamine B (RhB) and methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation slowly. The application of bias potential further improves the photodegradation efficiency of RhB and MB. Based on the analytic result of current–time curve, the stability of the film electrode is confirmed.