Facile synthesis of Ag Bi25GaO39Bi2WO6 heterostructure with enhanced photocatalytic performance based on interface structure design

Abstract

Abstract Composite photocatalytic system based on interface structure design is deemed to be a feasible method to improve the photocatalytic efficiency of sillenite-type photocatalytic material. Therefore, we reported the successful construction of novel tetrahedron-like Ag Bi25GaO39 Bi2WO6 heterostructure through a partial chemical conversion strategy coupling with the photo-reduction method. Experiment indicated that the as-prepared Ag Bi25GaO39 Bi2WO6 heterogeneous structure possessed excellent photo-degradation activity for the decomposition of Rhodamine B (RhB) and 95% of RhB molecules could be decomposed after 20 min of UV–vis light irradiation by comparison of single Bi25GaO39 and Bi2WO6, as well as the Bi25GaO39 Bi2WO6 heterostructure. Moreover, the resulted Ag Bi25GaO39 Bi2WO6 product also exhibited outstanding photocatalytic activity for the decomposition of other pollutant such as phenol and toxic Cr(VI) solutions. Due to the resulted advantages derived from the rational design of interface structure (matching band structure, intimate interfacial contacts, “face-to-face” contact mode of hetero-interface and the famous “schottky barriers), the photo-generated charges generated in the composite photocatalytic system could be separated quickly, thus exhibiting excellent photocatalytic ability. This design concept can provide new ideas for the construction of other similar composite photocatalytic systems.