Hydrothermal synthesis of mpg-C3N4 and Bi2WO6 nest-like structure nanohybrids with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activities

Abstract

To overcome the shortcomings of low photocatalytic efficiency, mpg-C₃N₄/Bi₂WO₆ photocatalysts have been successfully designed via a facile hydrothermal method. A succession of techniques was used to explore the morphology, structure, surface composition and photocatalytic property of the mpg-C₃N₄/Bi₂WO₆ material. The mpg-C₃N₄/Bi₂WO₆ nanohybrid has high photocatalytic performance for the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) and rhodamine B (RhB). Holes, ·O₂⁻ and ·OH radicals are determined to be the active species in the process of photocatalytic degradation by ESR and capture experiments. The ultrathin thickness of nest-like Bi₂WO₆ and the introduction of mpg-C₃N₄ into the Bi₂WO₆ matrix can improve the photocatalytic efficiency. The photocatalytic Z-scheme mechanism of the system was also discussed in detail. This work paves the way for preparing visible-light-driven nanocomposites for pollutant degradation.