Microwave-assisted synthesis and photocatalytic properties of flower-like Bi2WO6 and Bi2O3–Bi2WO6 composite

Flower-like Bi2WO6 and Bi2O3–Bi2WO6 composite microstructures have been synthesized via a facile and rapid microwave-assisted hydrothermal method through controlling the experimental parameters. The phases and morphologies of the products are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersion X-ray analysis (EDX), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Photocatalytic experiments indicate that such Bi2O3–Bi2WO6 composite possesses higher photocatalytic activity for RhB degradation under visible-light irradiation in comparison with pure Bi2O3 and Bi2WO6. On the basis of the calculated energy band positions, the enhanced photocatalytic activity is attributed to the effective separation of electron–hole pairs between the two semiconductors. The present study provides a new strategy to design composite materials with enhanced photocatalytic activity.

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► Flower-like Bi2WO6 and Bi2O3–Bi2WO6 were synthesized by a microwave-assisted method.
► The Bi2O3–Bi2WO6 composite was found to exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity.
► A mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of Bi2O3–Bi2WO6 was proposed.