Open AccessThree‐dimensional TiO 2 /Bi 2 WO 6 hierarchical heterostructure with enhanced visible photocatalytic activity
Author(s) -
Junqi Li,
Zhanyun Guo,
Yu Wang,
Zhenfeng Zhu
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
micro and nano letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.25
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 1750-0443
DOI - 10.1049/mnl.2013.0546
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , materials science , rhodamine b , heterojunction , visible spectrum , composite number , absorption (acoustics) , nanostructure , decomposition , titanate , chemical engineering , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , composite material , optoelectronics , catalysis , chemistry , ceramic , organic chemistry , engineering
A three‐dimensional TiO 2 /Bi 2 WO 6 hierarchical heterostructure was successfully prepared by a simple and practical liquid phase method. The as‐synthesised nanostructure consisted of TiO 2 nanoparticles growing on the surface of flower‐like Bi 2 WO 6 microspheres. The UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra indicated that the TiO 2 /Bi 2 WO 6 composites have a significantly enhanced optical absorption in the visible light region and red‐shift phenomenon compared with that of pure Bi 2 WO 6 microspheres. The photocatalytic activity of the TiO 2 /Bi 2 WO 6 composites increases first and then decreases with increasing loading content of TiO 2 under 500 W Xe lamp light irradiation. The composite coated with 3 ml content tetrabutyl titanate showed the highest photocatalytic activity compared with that of the other samples in the decomposition of Rhodamine B in water which is a typical model pollutant. The improved light harvesting ability and efficient separation of photo‐generated electron and hole pairs could be responsible for the improved photocatalytic performance.