CsxWO3 nanorods: Realization of full-spectrum-responsive photocatalytic activities from UV, visible to near-infrared region

Abstract Effective utilization of solar energy in photocatalytic materials is one of most essential issues what the photochemists are very concerned all along. In this work, full-spectrum-response photocatalytic activities covering UV, visible and near infrared regions on degradation of methylene blue have been realized firstly on single matter of the mixed valence Cs 0.32 WO 3 nanorod. As revealed by optical absorption results, advantages of Cs 0.32 WO 3 nanorod used in this purpose originated from its high optical absorption in the whole solar spectrum of 300–2500 nm. Benefitting from this unique photo-absorption property, the photocatalytic property of Cs x WO 3 nanorod displayed a significant advance in fully utilization of all solar energy, especially for NIR part, which holds considerable percentage of sunlight but seldom is utilized up to now. The removal rates of MB on Cs x WO 3 nanorod were determined to be 72, 70 and 37% under 185 mw/cm 2 UV, 166 mw/cm 2 visible and 42.7 mW/cm 2 NIR irradiation within the test duration, respectively. In addition, a plausible mechanism toward understanding the near-infrared driven photocatalytic activity on Cs 0.32 WO 3 nanorod has been proposed on the basis of ESR results and polaron absorption theory.