Synthesis, characterization and visible-light photocatalytic properties of Bi 2WO 6 and Bi 2W 2O 9 obtained by co-precipitation method

Abstract

The bismuth tungstates Bi 2WO 6 and Bi 2W 2O 9 were prepared by co-precipitation method at different calcination temperatures. The oxides were characterized by different techniques such as simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), nitrogen physisorption, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The photocatalytic activity of such bismuth tungstates was evaluated by degradation of rhodamine B under visible light irradiation. The degradation of the dye followed a first-order reaction with k′ = 5.6 × 10 −3 min −1 and t 1/2 = 124 min for the best sample, which was Bi 2W 2O 9 prepared at 700 °C.