Boosting the visible-light photoactivity of Bi2WO6 using acidic carbon additives

• Published in: Applied catalysis. A, General Vol. 505; pp. 467 - 477
• Main Authors: Carmona, Rocio J., Velasco, Leticia F., Hidalgo, M. Carmen, Navío, José A., Ania, Conchi O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 25-09-2015; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bismuth tungstate; Catalysis; Chemical Sciences; Environmental Engineering; Environmental Sciences; Heterogeneous photocatalysis; Material chemistry; Nanoporous carbons; Visible light; Nanoporous carbons; Visible light; Bismuth tungstate; Heterogeneous photocatalysis
• ISSN: 0926-860X; 1873-3875
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcata.2015.05.011

•Acidic carbon additives boost the photoactivity of Bi2WO6 under visible light.•Marked photodegradation of Rhodamine B was found via a coupled mechanism.•Dispersion of the carbon additive in the catalyst is the key for high performance.
We have explored the role of the physicohemical properties of carbon materials as additives to bismuth tungstate on its structure, optical properties, and photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B under visible light. For this purpose, C/Bi2WO6 hybrid composites were prepared following two different routes: (i) physical mixture of the catalyst components, and (ii) one-pot hydrothermal synthesis of the semiconductor in the presence of the carbon additive. Three carbons with different properties were selected as additives: biomass-derived activated carbon, carbon nanotubes and carbon spheres obtained from polysaccharides. Data has shown the outstanding role of the acidic/basic nature of the carbon additive, and of the synthetic method on the photocatalytic performance of the resulting composites. For a given additive, the degradation rate of RhB is greatly improved for the catalysts prepared through a one-step hydrothermal synthesis, where there is low shielding effect of the carbon matrix. Carbon additives of acidic nature boost the surface acidity of the hybrid photocatalyst, thereby enhancing the photodegradation of RhB under visible light via a coupled mechanism (photosensitization, semiconductor photocatalysis and carbon-photon mediated reactions).