Enhanced photocatalytic performance in Bi2WO6/SnS heterostructures: Facile synthesis, influencing factors and mechanism of the photocatalytic process

Rongfeng Tang; Huaifen Su; Yuanwei Sun; Xianxi Zhang; Lei Li; Caihua Liu; Suyuan Zeng; Dezhi Sun

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2015.12.054

Enhanced photocatalytic performance in Bi2WO6/SnS heterostructures: Facile synthesis, influencing factors and mechanism of the photocatalytic process

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2016 Mar 15:466:388-99. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2015.12.054. Epub 2015 Dec 29.

Authors

Rongfeng Tang¹, Huaifen Su¹, Yuanwei Sun¹, Xianxi Zhang¹, Lei Li¹, Caihua Liu¹, Suyuan Zeng², Dezhi Sun³

Affiliations

¹ Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Energy Storage and Novel Cell Technology, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China.
² Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Energy Storage and Novel Cell Technology, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China. Electronic address: drzengsy@163.com.
³ Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Energy Storage and Novel Cell Technology, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China. Electronic address: sundezhi@lcu.edu.cn.

PMID: 26752434
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2015.12.054

Abstract

Highly-efficient photocatalyst based on Bi2WO6/SnS heterostructure was prepared via a surface functionalization method using 3-mercaptopropionic (MPA) as the surface functionalizing agent. Compared to bare Bi2WO6 and SnS nanoparticles, the as-formed Bi2WO6/SnS heterostructure exhibits enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine B (Rh B). Photoluminescence and photocurrent measurements demonstrate that the enhanced photocatalytic activity during the photocatalytic process is closely related to the enhanced electron-hole separation efficiency. The photocatalytic activity of the as-formed Bi2WO6/SnS heterostructure can be perfectly remained even after being used for five times, showing excellent durability during the photocatalytic process. The influence of pH and inorganic ions are systematically investigated. And the optimum pH for the photocatalytic process is determined to be 6. The addition of chloride ion will exert negative effect on the photodegradation process of Rh B. The mechanism of photodegradation process was investigated by exploring the quenching effects of different scavengers and the results suggest that the reactive holes play the major role in the photodegradation process of Rh B.

Keywords: Bi(2)WO(6)/SnS heterostructures; Narrow band semiconductor coupling; Visible-light-driven photocatalysis; pH-dependent.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't