High photocatalytic activity N-doped Bi2WO6 nanoparticles using a two-step microwave-assisted and hydrothermal synthesis

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 744; pp. 228 - 233
• Main Authors: Hoang, Luc Huy, Phu, Nguyen Dang, Peng, Heng, Chen, Xiang-Bai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 05-05-2018
• Subjects: N-doped Bi2WO6 nanoparticles; Photocatalytic activity; Two-step microwave-assisted and hydrothermal method; Photocatalytic activity; Two-step microwave-assisted and hydrothermal method; N-doped Bi2WO6 nanoparticles
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2018.02.094

High quality N-doped Bi2WO6 nanoparticles were synthesized using a two-step microwave-assisted and hydrothermal method. The morphological, structural, compositional and optical properties of the samples were investigated using a scanning electron microscope, N2 adsorption/desorption, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-VIS diffuse reflectance and photoluminescence. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was studied using visible light irradiation of rhodamine B. Our results show that this two-step synthesis and N-doping are both helpful in enhancing the photocatalytic activity of Bi2WO6 nanoparticles, and that N-doping plays a more important role than the two-step synthesis. The best photocatalytic activity can be achieved by the N-doping of N:Bi = 0.5% (atomic ratio), which is mainly due to the greatest decrease in recombination rate of photogenerated electron-hole pairs obtained with this doping content. In addition, the photocatalytic mechanism study indicated that the photogenerated holes are the dominant active species in the photocatalytic process.
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•N-doped Bi2WO6 nanoparticles were synthesized via a two-step microwave-assisted and hydrothermal method.•The best photocatalytic activity was achieved by N-doping with an atomic ratio of N:Bi = 0.5%.•The recombination rate of electron-hole pairs is crucial in improving photocatalytic activity.•The photogenerated holes are the dominant active species in the photocatalytic process.