Highly photocatalytic active thiomolybdate [Mo3S13]2− clusters/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites

•The Mo3S132−/Bi2WO6 composites were facile prepared by a hydro-thermal method.•The [Mo3S13]2− clusters enhance catalytic activity of Bi2WO6 as a co-catalysts.•[Mo3S13]2− clusters exhibited enhanced charge separation effect.•Mo3S132−/Bi2WO6 composites are promising candidate for photocatalytic application.

The Mo3S132−/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites were facilely fabricated by depositing [Mo3S13]2− clusters onto the hydrothermally prepared Bi2WO6 nanoparticles. This novel Mo3S132−/Bi2WO6 nanocomposite exhibited unprecedented visible light photocatalytic activities. The deposited [Mo3S13]2− clusters enhanced the photocatalytic activity of Bi2WO6 by promoting the migration of photoinduced charges, which restrained the recombination of photogenerated hole–electron (h+/e−) pairs on the surface of Bi2WO6. Furthermore, the high photocatalytic stability and recyclability of Mo3S132−/Bi2WO6 nanocomposite enable it to be a promising candidate for the environmental remediation especially in wastewater treatment. In all, [Mo3S13]2− clusters with advantages of low cost and earth-abundance are great potential as co-catalyst for photocatalysts.

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