Synergism of 3D g-C3N4 decorated Bi2WO6 microspheres with efficient visible light catalytic activity

Abstract

g-C3N4 decorated Bi2WO6 microspheres with scales of 2.0∼3.0 μm were prepared via a hydrothermal method. The matching of energy band between g-C3N4 and Bi2WO6 facilitate the absorption visible light and the separation of electron-carrier. The morphology, constitute and optical properties of the as-prepared samples is confirmed by different characterization techniques, such as, XRD, XPS, EDS, SEM, UV–vis, and N2 adsorption-desorption. The photocatalytic activities were assessed by the photodegradation of Methyl orange (MO) and phenol under visible light irradiation. The results indicated that the decoration of g-C3N4 evidently improves the photocatalytic activity of Bi2WO6, and the content of g-C3N4 has significantly effect on the catalytic activity of Bi2WO6. By comparison of other samples, 3 wt% g-C3N4/Bi2WO6 composites present an extraordinary enhanced photocatalytic activity for the photodegradation of MO and phenol under visible light. On the basis of the result and discussion, the possible mechanism of enhanced photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4/Bi2WO6 composites is proposed. It implies that the combination of g-C3N4 and Bi2WO6 provided synergistic photocatalytic activity via an efficient electron transfer process. Furthermore, the photocatalytic degradation of MO over g-C3N4/Bi2WO6 is promoted mainly by h+, and the same time •OH also plays a positive role in this degradation process.