One-pot hydrothermal synthesis of Bi2O2CO3/Bi2WO6 visible light photocatalyst with enhanced photocatalytic activity

Abstract A novel Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 /Bi 2 WO 6 composite photocatalyst is synthesized via a one-pot hydrothermal route. The as-prepared composite is assembled by many Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 and Bi 2 WO 6 nanosheets, forming a unique hybrid nanostructure. The investigation on the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under the Xe light illumination reveals that the Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 /Bi 2 WO 6 composite exhibits higher photocatalytic activity than single phase Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 or Bi 2 WO 6 . The enhanced photocatalytic performance can be attributed to the improved light absorption ability and the reduced recombination of photoexcited electrons and holes during photocatalytic reactions. Moreover, a possible reaction pathway of the Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 /Bi 2 WO 6 composite is proposed. The one-pot hydrothermal method developed in this study provides an example of simultaneous synthesis of two Bi-containing Aurivillius-related phases with enhanced photocatalytic activity.