Controlled synthesis of hierarchical Bi2WO6 microspheres with improved visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical Bi₂WO₆ microspheres were successfully synthesized by a simple inorganic salt-assisted hydrothermal process. Morphology modulation of the obtained products could be easily realized by tuning the concentration of the nitrate. It is worthy to note that the obtained hierarchical Bi₂WO₆ microspheres exhibit powerful visible-light-photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine-B (RhB) under 300 W Xe lamp light irradiation. A possible salt-assisted formation mechanism was proposed on the basis of the experimental results. Furthermore, this work might represent a novel synthesis strategy for other photocatalysts with desired photocatalytic activity.