Bi2WO6 micro/nano-structures: Synthesis, modifications and visible-light-driven photocatalytic applications

Currently, the photocatalytic reactions occurring under solar illumination have attracted worldwide attentions due to a tremendous set of environmental problems. Taking the sunlight into account, it is indispensable to develop highly effective visible-light-driven photocatalysts. Bi2WO6 is one of newly developed visible-light-driven photocatalysts, and its photocatalytic performance is seriously dependent on its structure, morphology and components. This article features recent research progress in the preparation and growth mechanism of Bi2WO6 micro/nano-structures, including nanoplates, nanoparticles, superstructures and thin films. In addition, the advances in the doped Bi2WO6 and Bi2WO6 based composites have also been overviewed. These Bi2WO6 based micro/nano-structures exhibit different photocatalytic performances on the degradation of the organic pollutant as well as the disinfection of the bacteria, and the effects of their structures and components on photocatalytic activities are also compared.

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► Bi2WO6 has attracted much attention as one of newly developed visible-light-driven photocatalysts.
► We summarized the design, preparation and/or growth mechanism of Bi2WO6 based micro/nano-structures with diverse shapes and components.
► These Bi2WO6 based micro/nano-structures exhibited structure/component-dependent visible-light-driven photocatalytic activities on both the degradation of the organic pollutant and the disinfection of the bacteria.