Bi2WO6 Nanoparticles Research Articles

The addition of Bi2WO6 nanoparticles to polyvinyl alcohol film: Improvements in optical, mechanical, and electrical properties

This study deals with the influence of adding Bi2WO6 (BWO) nanoparticles on the optical, structural, dielectric, and mechanical properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). BWO nanoparticles synthesized by solvothermal method were characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDS). The thick film nanocomposites were analyzed by Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, XRD device, SEM, atomic force microscope (AFM), ultraviolet visible (UV–Vis) spectrophotometer, impedance analyzer, and tensile test machine. While FTIR analyses confirmed the formation of composite structure and the presence of BWO in the composites, AFM views indicated the reduced roughness for composites. Additionally, the UV–Vis light absorption spectra revealed a narrowed band gap in the composites. Moreover, with increasing BWO contribution, gradual increases were recorded in Young's modulus, toughness and % breaking strain parameters. The frequency dependent dielectric properties was also shown that the energy storage ability of the PVA matrix enhances 25 % and 50 % due to 2 % and 3 % BWO additives, respectively. However, the composite with higher ε′ and lower ε″ values than the pure PVA in the entire frequency range was the 2 % BWO-doped nanocomposite. Based on the serious and simultaneously improvements in electrical, optical and mechanical properties, it can be suggested that 2 % BWO additive provides the opportunity to expand the application area of PVA synergistically.

Cu‐Doped 0D Bi2WO6 Nanoparticles for Efficient Visible‐Light‐Driven Photocatalytic Tetracycline Degradation

AbstractBismuth‐based photocatalysts have been widely employed in the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater. However, the lack of rational structural design and the slow generation of active free radicals have hindered its efficiency. Here, we stabilized Bi2WO6 nanoparticles by wrapping them with hydroxyl groups, introduced metal Cu doping, and underwent an annealing process to construct Cu‐BiNP nanocatalysts with exposed active sites. Under visible light irradiation, 0.03Cu‐BiNP achieved a 94.5% TC degradation efficiency, which is 15.8 times higher than the rate of bulk BiWO. The 0D structure endows Cu‐BiNP with ample opportunities for O2 adsorption and activation, and Cu atomic doping reduces the bandgap and increases the oxygen vacancy, promoting the generation of active oxygen species. This work demonstrates the rapid charge separation and activation of O2 to generate active oxygen species by 0D bismuth‐based nanocatalysts in photocatalytic oxidation reactions, providing a scalable nanocatalyst platform for TC photocatalytic degradation.

Sonocatalytic performance of Bi2WO6 nanoparticles for degradation of tetracycline antibiotics

Sonocatalytic performance of Bi2WO6 nanoparticles for degradation of tetracycline antibiotics

Defect Engineering of Bi2WO6 for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Antibiotic Pollutants.

Infiltration of excessive antibiotics into aquatic ecosystems plays a significant role in antibiotic resistance, a major global health challenge. It is therefore critical to develop effective technologies for their removal. Herein, defect-rich Bi2WO6 nanoparticles are solvothermally prepared via epitaxial growth on pristine Bi2WO6 seed nanocrystals, and the efficiency of the photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin, a common antibiotic, is found to increase markedly from 62.51% to 98.27% under visible photoirradiation for 60min. This is due to the formation of a large number of structural defects, where the synergistic interactions between grain boundaries and adjacent dislocations and oxygen vacancies lead to an improved separation and migration efficiency of photogenerated carriers and facilitate the adsorption and degradation of ciprofloxacin, as confirmed in experimental and theoretical studies. Results from this work demonstrate the unique potential of defect engineering for enhanced photocatalytic performance, a critical step in removing antibiotic contaminants in aquatic ecosystems.

Bi2WO6 nanoparticles anchored on membrane by grafting via in-situ polymerization for the treatment of antibiotic and pesticides wastewater

Antibiotics, natural organic matter, and pesticides are detected in the ecosystem's domestic water, surface water, and groundwater and are largely applied in pharmaceuticals and agriculture. Polymeric membranes are effectively remove the various pollutants in the water bodies, but fouling is one of the major limitations of commercial membranes. Herein, we modified the polymeric membrane surface with inorganic photocatalytic nanoparticles. In this work, the hydrothermal method is used for the synthesis of Bi2WO6 nanoparticles and as-synthesized nanoparticles grafted onto the various polymeric membranes, including polyetherimide (PEI), cellulose acetate (CA), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and polysulfone (PSF). The functional group studies confirmed the existence of nanoparticles and hydroxyl groups on the hybrid membrane. Further, finger-like voids, top-surface morphology, and roughness on the membrane surface were validated via Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. The significant rejection of tetracycline, humic acid, and fulvic acid + atrazine was noted with the synthesized membranes in the following order: PVDF (81.1%, 78.8%, 80.6%) > CA (70.1%, 69.3%, 71.7%) > PSF (72.5%, 73.6%, 67.1%) > PEI (75.9%, 65.5%, 63.7%). The photodegradation efficiency of hybrid membranes against tetracycline, humic acid, and fulvic acid + atrazine was observed in the order: PEI (28.5%, 25.8%, 30.2%) < CA (46.5%, 42.4%, 40.5%) < PSF (46.9%, 37.7%, 44.7%) < PVDF (67.7%, 62.1%, 64.3%). These membranes exhibit an outstanding permeate flux recovery ratio to the neat membrane. Therefore, the grafting of Bi2WO6 nanoparticles creates a potential bonding with PVDF membranes than other polymeric membranes, thus exhibiting an outstanding rejection than hybrid and neat membranes.

A novel photoelectrochemical approach with “signal-off” pattern for anodic detection of sunset yellow in food samples based on Bi2WO6/TiO2 NTAs heterostructure nanocomposite

A new and signal-off photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing platform utilizing TiO2 nanotube arrays (NTAs) coated with Bi2WO6 nanoparticles (NPs) has been successfully developed for the highly sensitive detection of sunset yellow (SY). The interaction between SY and Bi2WO6 NPs leads to substantial steric hindrance, resulting in a noticeable decrease in the photocurrent signal. The proposed PEC sensor demonstrates quantitative detection capabilities for SY across a wide liner range of 10 fM to 100 µM with an ultralow detection limit (LOD) of 0.78 fM. Furthermore, the designed PEC sensor exhibits several notable advantages, including robust anti-interference properties, desirable repeatability, good reproducibility, and excellent stability. Finally, the designed PEC sensor was applied to determine SY in diverse real samples without any remarkable difference compared to the UV–Vis reference method.

Assisted assembling of Bi2WO6/rGO composites: A 3D/2D Hierarchical nanostructures for enhanced photocatalytic water remediation and photo-(electro)catalytic water splitting proficiency

The current study explores the possibility of effectively improving Bi2WO6 (BWO) nanostructures in photocatalytic clean H2 generation and treating water from pharmaceutical wastes. BWO nanoparticles (NPs) hybridized with carbon-derived materials proved to be an efficient candidate in the field of photocatalysis. In this work, BWO nanostructures have been synthesized via the facile co-precipitation technique. The reduced graphene oxide (r-GO) was used as the carbon derivative for the hybridization process. Furthermore, different weight percentages of rGO were loaded with BWO NPs through the wet impregnation technique. The structural, and morphological analysis confirmed the formation of BWO/x% rGO composites. UV-DRS analysis showcased the reduction in bandgap in annexure with increased light absorbance region upon rGO inclusion. Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) proved a prolonged lifetime for BWO/15% rGO composite. In addition, their photocatalytic abilities were put to the test, and BWO/15% rGO nano-hybrid demonstrated a superior degradation of pharmaceutical wastes like tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) and levofloxacin (LVX) from water in 15 min. Furthermore, photo-electrochemical measurements showed the lowest onset potential and better charge transfer for efficient splitting of water. The photocatalytic water splitting was performed in the presence of sacrificial agents and in the absence of sacrificial agents, where BWO/15% rGO exhibited maximum H2 evolution.

Efficient Photocatalytic degradation of direct blue 15 dye using samarium doped bismuth tungstate nanosheets: A sustainable approach towards wastewater treatment

The rare earth metal, samarium (Sm3+) doped bismuth tungstate (Bi2WO6) nanoparticles were prepared by a one-pot hydrothermal method. The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the formation of Bi2WO6 with an orthorhombic crystal structure. The crystallite size of Bi2WO6 decreased from 20.73 to 9.25 nm as the Sm substitution in the W lattice increased. The vibrational modes of W–O, Bi–O, and Sm–O were identified in the range of 500–900 cm−1. The optical bandgap of Sm3+ doped Bi2WO6 nanoparticles increased from 2.86 to 2.95 eV with higher Sm doping levels. The surface morphology revealed the formation of flower-like sheets in the Sm3+ doped bismuth tungstate. The energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrum of Sm3+ doped Bi2WO6 nanoparticles confirmed the presence of Sm, Bi, W, and O without any other impurities. The small peak detected at 1082.14 eV in the survey scan of Sm3+ doped Bi2WO6 nanoparticles belonged to Sm3d. In the photocatalytic degradation of direct blue 15 (DB15) under visible light irradiation, the efficiency of the nanoparticles increased with higher Sm3+ concentration. The obtained results demonstrated that the Sm–Bi2WO6 nanosheets could provide an effective and sustainable solution for treating the wastewater containing direct blue 15 dye.

Enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity of FeVO4/Bi2WO6 heterojunction via Z-scheme charge-transfer mechanism

The design and construction of a Z-scheme heterojunction, aiming to strengthen its redox ability for photocatalytic applications, is challenging. In this study, a series of x mol%-FeVO4/Bi2WO6 heterostructures were fabricated. FeVO4 content was tuned for enhanced organic pollutants photodegradation. The 2.5 mol%-FeVO4/Bi2WO6 photocatalyst exhibited superior photodegradation efficiency with high recyclability and stability for bisphenol A and methylene blue, which was 3.3 and 2.6 times faster than that of Bi2WO6, respectively. Moreover, the fabricated photocatalyst showed remarkable selectivity toward methylene blue as compared to that toward brilliant green and methyl orange. The photo-efficacy was enhanced owing to the close interfacial contact between Bi2WO6 and FeVO4 nanoparticles, resulting in a Z-scheme FeVO4/Bi2WO6 heterojunction, which enabled efficient charge transfer imparting strong reducing ability to the electrons for the reduction of O2 to •O2−, and subsequent production of H2O2 and •OH. This work highlights a potential photocatalyst for photodegradation of environmental pollutants.

In situ modification of discoid α-Fe2O3 nanostructures with Bi2WO6 for high performance n-butanol sensor

Intentionally constructing n-n or p-n heterojunctions in nanostructured metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) has been verified to be one of efficient strategies to develop MOS-based gas sensors with high performance. Here, we demonstrate an n-n α-Fe2O3–Bi2WO6 heterojunction strategy to boost the gas sensitivity of α-Fe2O3 towards n-butanol. To construct α-Fe2O3–Bi2WO6 heterojunction in α-Fe2O3, a novel discoid nanostructure (DNS) of α-Fe2O3 that assembled with crystalline nanoparticles with the size around 20 nm was first prepared via a solvothermal method. Then, evenly distributed Bi2WO6 nanoparticles were modified on the α-Fe2O3 DNSs via a simple hydrothermal method. The finally obtained Bi2WO6@α-Fe2O3 DNSs were about 60–90 nm in center thickness and 250–300 nm in diameter. When applied in gas sensor for detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the Bi2WO6@α-Fe2O3 sensor, as compared with the bare α-Fe2O3 sensor, exhibited impressive enhancements in n-butanol sensing performance, including higher sensitivity (0.225/ppm vs 0.073/ppm for 10–100 ppm n-butanol), better selectivity (Sn-butanol/Sacetone: 15.2 vs 6.4) and faster response speed (8 s vs 10 s for 50 ppm n-butanol). These improvements were considered to benefit from the sensitization effects of Bi2WO6@α-Fe2O3 heterojunction, whose mechanism is discussed in detail.

Novel Bi2WO6/MWCNT nanohybrids synthesis for high-performance photocatalytic activity of ciprofloxacin degradation under simulated sunlight irradiation

In this research, novel Bi2WO6/MWCNT nanohybrids were synthesized via a cost-effective hydrothermal route. The photocatalytic performance of these specimens was tested through the photodegradation of Ciprofloxacin (CIP) under simulated sunlight. Various physicochemical techniques systematically characterized the prepared pure, Bi2WO6/MWCNT nanohybrid photocatalysts. The XRD and Raman spectra revealed the structural/phase properties of Bi2WO6/MWCNT nanohybrids. FESEM and TEM pictures revealed the attachment and distribution of plate-like Bi2WO6 nanoparticles along the nanotubes. The optical absorption and bandgap energy of Bi2WO6 was affected by the addition of MWCNT, which was analyzed by UV-DRS spectroscopy. The introduction of MWCNT reduces the bandgap value of Bi2WO6 from 2.76 to 2.46 eV. The BWM-10 nanohybrid showed superior photocatalytic activity for CIP photodegradation; 91.3% of CIP was degraded under sunlight irradiation. The PL and transient photocurrent test confirm that photoinduced charge separation efficiency is better in BWM-10 nanohybrids. The scavenger test indicates that h+ & •O2 have mainly contributed to the CIP degradation process. Furthermore, the BWM-10 catalyst demonstrated outstanding reusability and firmness in four successive cycles. It is anticipated that the Bi2WO6/MWCNT nanohybrids will be employed as photocatalysts for environmental remediation and energy conversion. This research presents a novel technique for developing an effective photocatalyst for pollutant degradation.

Preparation of rice-like WO2.92/Bi2WO6 nanoparticles and application in rapid restoration of sea water with high concentration of 4-nitrophenol pollutant

It is very needful to rapidly restore sea water with high concentration of 4-nitrophenol when a 4-nitrophenol pollution incident occurs. Driven by this requirement, we prepared rice-like WO2.92/Bi2WO6 nanoparticles. Meanwhile, their catalytic activity was explored. It was found that the as-prepared sample is an efficient catalyst which can be used in the fast restoration of highly concentrated 4-nitrophenol effluent. When the concentration of 4-nitrophenol is 1.0 × 10-3 mol L-1, almost 100% 4-nitrophenol can be removed within 1 min. In addition, when the WO2.92/Bi2WO6 nanoparticles are used to remove 4-nitrophenol in sea water (1.0 × 10-3 mol L-1), the removal efficiency of 4-nitrophenol is up to 100% within 8 min. Our work may put forward new insights for designing an efficient catalyst which is suitable for rapid removal of highly concentrated 4-nitrophenol from sea water.

Novel MoSSe/Bi2WO6 S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts for significantly improved photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic performance

Two-dimensional MoSSe nanoplates demonstrate low internal resistance and outstanding reduction potential, while Bi2WO6 nanoparticles exhibit zero-dimensional appearance and high oxidation potential. Herein, novel MoSSe/Bi2WO6 step-scheme (S-scheme) heterojunction photocatalysts (MSSB) were prepared to combine the properties of those two materials. These catalysts were confirmed to have lower internal resistance (as low as 0.07 kΩ), and higher carriers’ separation efficiency due to the well-contacted two-dimensional/zero-dimensional structure. More importantly, the heterojunction catalysts displayed both good oxidation and reduction performance which have been confirmed by the conducted catalytic tests. With an optimized Bi2WO6 loading ratio, degradation rates (k) and photocurrent density of the MSSB2 sample were 2.09, and 8.31 times more than that of MoSSe, as well as 1.77, and 26.27 times more than that of Bi2WO6. Active species (superoxide radical •O2− and hydroxyl radical •OH) were detected by the electron spin resonance tool which could infer that a S-scheme heterojunction has already constructed between the Bi2WO6 and MoSSe. Driven by the MoSSe and band edge bending, the e– on the conduction band of Bi2WO6 readily slid toward MoSSe and recombines with the h+ on the valence band of MoSSe, while retaining the powerful e– and h+ with high redox potential on the CB of MoSSe and VB of Bi2WO6. This work further provided a novel strategy for developing S-scheme nano-heterojunction catalysts and revealed their prospects in photoelectrochemistry and photocatalysis.

Electrochemical quantification of atrazine-fulvic acid and removal through bismuth tungstate photocatalytic hybrid membranes

Herbicides such as atrazine and humus substances such as fulvic acid are widely used in agricultural sector. They can be traced in surface and groundwater around the agriculture field at concentrations beyond the approved limit due to their mobility and persistence. Bismuth-based photocatalysts activated by visible light are potential materials for removing various organic pollutants from water bodies. These photocatalysts can also be suitable candidates for developing a hybrid membrane with anti-fouling properties. In this study, Bi2WO6 nanoparticles were synthesized via the hydrothermal method and integrated into the cellulose acetate (CA), polyetherimide (PEI), polysulfone (PSF) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymers via physical blending approach. The hybrid membranes were then characterized by FTIR, XPS and FESEM to confirm the chemical bonding, chemical composition and surface morphology of Bi2WO6. Thus, the pure water flux of CA (35.6 L m−2 h−1), PEI (46.56 L m−2 h−1), PSF (6.84 L m−2 h−1), and PVDF (68.47 L m−2 h−1) hybrid membranes has significantly enhanced than the pristine CA, PEI, PSF and PVDF membranes. The significant rejection of atrazine-fulvic acid was observed with hybrid membranes in the order of CA (84.1%) > PVDF (72.7%) > PEI (47.8%) > PSF (37.2%), and these membranes have shown an excellent flux recovery ratio than pristine membranes. Further, electrochemical quantification studies were performed to analyze the removal efficiency of atrazine-fulvic acid from water. In this present work, GO-modified SPE was employed for electrochemical sensing studies. The resultant CA hybrid membrane achieved removal efficiency of 84.08% for atrazine. It was observed that the Bi2WO6 established strong bonding with CA, and PVDF membranes, thus showing a significant removal efficiency and FRR than other hybrid and pristine membranes.

Enhanced photocatalytic activity for degradation of ofloxacin and dye by hierarchical flower-like ZnS/MoS2/Bi2WO6 heterojunction: Synergetic effect of 2D/2D coupling interface and solid sulfide solutions

To strengthen the photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics and organic dyes, the band structure engineering serves as an efficient approach, which can be realized by constructing heterostucture photocatalysts. Herein, 0D/2D/2D ZnS/MoS2/Bi2WO6 (ZMB) hierarchical flower-like microspheres were smoothly prepared via in-situ growth of Bi2WO6 nanoparticles on ZnS/MoS2 surfaces. The results illustrated that the content of Bi2WO6 played a crucial role in regulating the photocatalytic activity of ZMB heterostructures. ZMB-7 showed a better degradation capacity compared to ZnS/MoS2 and other ZMB composites, and the degradation rates of ofloxacin (OFL) and rhodamine B (RhB) respectively reached 98.5% and 91.1% under light illumination. The enhanced photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the large specific surface, improved separation of photogenerated carriers, as well as rapid charge transfer by combining the advantage of 2D coupling interfaces generated from MoS2/Bi2WO6 and composition-controlled band gap in solid sulfide solutions. On the basis of active species trapping experiments and HPLC-MS tests, a possible photocatalytic mechanism and gradation pathway for OFL were further proposed. The ternary ZnS/MoS2/Bi2WO6 heterojunction with enhanced photocatalytic activities in the work may have vital applications for environmental purification owing to its synergistic effects between composition and microstructure.

One-pot synthesis of flower-like Bi2WO6/BiOCOOH microspheres with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity

Herein, flower-like Bi2WO6/BiOCOOH heterojunction photocatalysts were synthesized by one-pot method. Morphological characterizations had demonstrated that the Bi2WO6 nanoparticles were tightly anchored on the surface of BiOCOOH, which indicated that the successful synthesis of the Bi2WO6-BiOCOOH photocatalysts. Compared with pure BiOCOOH and Bi2WO6, the Bi2WO6/BiOCOOH photocatalysts had exhibited a red shift in absorption edge and enhanced visible light absorption. EIS, PL and photocurrent response results suggested that the form of the Bi2WO6-BiOCOOH heterojunction facilitated the separation of photogenerated electron and hole pairs. Furthermore, the photoactivity of Bi2WO6/BiOCOOH were evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline (TC) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) under the simulated sunlight irradiation. The results manifested that the W/Bi-2 photocatalyst exhibited the best photocatalytic activity, which TC was degraded by 88 % within 75 min and CIP was degraded by 90 % within 90 min. The improvement of photocatalytic activity was mainly attributed to the decrease in the composite rate of photo-induced electron-hole pairs. Radical trapping experiments and EPR results indicated that holes (h+) and superoxide radicals (·O2–) were dominant during the degradation of TC. The possible photocatalytic mechanism was discussed based on the band structures of BiOCOOH and Bi2WO6.

Hierarchical Bi2WO6/TiO2-nanotube composites derived from natural cellulose for visible-light photocatalytic treatment of pollutants.

A series of Bi2WO6/TiO2-nanotube (Bi2WO6/TiO2-NT) heterostructured composites were prepared by utilizing natural cellulose (e.g., laboratory filter paper) as the structural template. The obtained nanoarchitectonics, namely Bi2WO6/TiO2-NT nanocomposites, displayed three-dimensionally interwoven structures which replicated the initial cellulose template. The composite Bi2WO6/TiO2-NT nanotubes were formed by TiO2 nanotubes that uniformly anchored with Bi2WO6 nanoparticles of various densities on the surface. The composites exhibited improved photocatalytic activities toward the reduction of Cr(VI) and degradation of rhodamine B under visible light (λ > 420 nm), which were attributed to the uniform anchoring of Bi2WO6 nanoparticles on TiO2 nanotubes, as well as strong mutual effects and well-proportioned formation of heterostructures in between the Bi2WO6 and TiO2 phases. These improvements arose from the cellulose-derived unique structures, leading to an enhanced absorption of visible light together with an accelerated separation and transfer of the photogenerated electron–hole pairs of the nanocomposites, which resulted in increased effective amounts of photogenerated carriers for the photocatalytic reactions. It was demonstrated that the photoinduced electrons dominated the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI), while hydroxyl radicals and reactive holes contributed to the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B.

Novel 0D/2D Bi2WO6/MoSSe Z-scheme heterojunction for enhanced photocatalytic degradation and photoelectrochemical activity

The catalytic activity of a single catalyst could be optimized by constructing a Z-scheme heterojunction structure with another adaptive material. 0D Bi2WO6 nanoparticles exhibit good oxidation ability, while 2D MoSSe nanoplates with low internal resistance show excellent reduction ability. Herein, novel 0D/2D Bi2WO6/MoSSe Z-scheme heterojunction catalysts (BMSS) with different Mo: Bi molar ratios were developed by combining the advantages of pure Bi2WO6 and MoSSe. The matched energy bands may provide the possibility to construct heterojunction, and the internal electric fields could facilitate the separation and transmission of internal carriers. Energy band structure analyses and electron spin resonance (ESR) results have further confirmed the existence of the above Z-scheme heterojunction structure and internal electric field. More importantly, as-prepared BMSS catalysts were proved to have excellent oxidation and reduction ability from photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical results. With an optimized MoSSe loading ratio of 3.66%, the BMSS3 catalyst showed 4.13 times of photocurrent density than that of pure Bi2WO6 and displayed an excellent degradation rate (0.0377 min−1). It can be concluded that BMSS catalysts will have promising applications in photoelectrochemistry and photocatalysis.

Surface morphology properties and antifouling activity of Bi2WO6/boron-grafted polyurethane composite coatings realized via multiple synergy

An inorganic–organic composite coating is an effective way to solve the issue of marine organism attachment and realize multi-element synergistic antifouling. Herein, Bi2WO6/boron-grafted polyurethane composite coatings (BWOB) composed of Bi2WO6 with three morphologies (nanosheet, flower and microsphere) and boron-grafted polyurethane (ITB) were successfully synthesized to achieve high-efficiency antifouling. Bi2WO6 nanoparticles were evenly distributed on the surface and inside the ITB to form micro/nanostructures. In the composite coatings doped with flower-shaped Bi2WO6, BWOB-5 showed excellent antibacterial and antidiatom adhesion properties, achieving 95.43% and 98.38% against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively, and 98.62% against Nitzschia closterium. In addition, the micro/nanostructure on the surface, the stable production of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and superoxide radicals (·O2–) during photocatalysis, and the antifouling functional groups of the resin matrix in the BWOB composite coatings were all conducive to photocatalytic antifouling activity. More importantly, BWOB coatings exhibited excellent environmentally friendly properties. Therefore, BWOB coatings are expected to have potential application value in the field of photocatalytic sterilization and antifouling.

Photoirradiation-Induced Capacitance Enhancement in the h-WO3/Bi2WO6 Submicron Rod Heterostructure under Simulated Solar Illumination and Its Postillumination Capacitance Enhancement Retainment from a Photocatalytic Memory Effect.

Recently, photoassisted charging has been demonstrated as a green and sustainable approach to successfully enhance the capacitance of supercapacitors with low cost and good efficiency. However, their light-induced capacitance enhancement is relatively low and is lost quickly when the illumination is off. In this work, a novel active material system is developed for supercapacitors with the photoassisted charging capability by the decoration of a small amount of Bi2WO6 nanoparticles on an h-WO3 submicron rod surface in situ, which forms a typical type II band alignment heterostructure with a close contact interface through the co-sharing of W atoms between h-WO3 submicron rods and Bi2WO6 nanoparticles. The photogenerated charge carrier separation and transfer are largely enhanced in the h-WO3/Bi2WO6 submicron rod electrode, which subsequently allows more charge carriers to participate in its photoassisted charging process to largely enhance its capacitance improvement under simulated solar illumination than that of the h-WO3 submicron rod electrode. Furthermore, the h-WO3/Bi2WO6 submicron rod electrode could retain its photoinduced capacitance enhancement in the dark for an extended period of time from the photocatalytic memory effect. Thus, our work provides a solution to the two major drawbacks of reported supercapacitors with the light-induced capacitance enhancement property, and supercapacitors based on active materials with the photocatalytic memory effect could be utilized in various technical fields.