Exposed specific (040) and (110) facets of BiVO4 modified with Bi2WO6 nanoparticles for enhanced photocatalytic performance

Abstract

Herein, BVO with homojunction in the (040) and (110) facets modified by Bi₂WO₆ nanoparticles was prepared via a facile hydrothermal method. The structures, morphologies, and photoelectrochemical properties of the as-prepared samples were characterized and measured. The characterization results indicated that Bi₂WO₆ nanoparticles were approximately 5 nm in size and were exclusively dispersed on the surface of BiVO₄. BiVO₄/Bi₂WO₆ heterojunction materials exhibited much higher photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic activities than the pure BiVO₄ and Bi₂WO₆. The enhanced performance was attributed to BiVO₄ with a homojunction structure and the effective interfacial transfer of photogenerated electrons from BiVO₄ to Bi₂WO₆. Moreover, a possible mechanism for the enhancement of visible light photoelectrochemical performance of the BiVO₄/Bi₂WO₆ photocatalyst was proposed.