Increasing the photocatalytic efficiency of ZnWO$_4$ by synthesizing a Bi$_2$WO$_6$/ZnWO$_4$ composite photocatalyst

Kumar, Praveen (author), Verma, Shilpi (author), Čelan Korošin, Nataša (author), Žener, Boštjan (author), Lavrenčič Štangar, Urška (author)

In the present study, a Bi$_2$WO$_6$/ZnWO$_4$ photocatalyst was successfully constructed by a modified hydrothermal synthesis method with different molar concentrations of Bi$_2$WO$_6$ with respect to ZnWO$_4$. The variation in molar concentrations of Bi$_2$WO$_6$ changed the photocatalytic properties of the Bi$_2$WO$_6$/ZnWO$_4$ catalyst. The synthesized Bi$_2$WO$_6$/ZnWO$_4$ photocatalyst was characterized by various techniques to decipher its structural and spectral properties. The interaction of Bi$^{2+}$ ionic charge carriers and many-body effects cause the band gap to narrow in Bi$_2$WO$_6$/ZnWO$_4$, as shown by PL analysis. The decrease in band gap energies (E$_g$) from 4.7 eV (ZnWO$_4$) to 3.5 eV (30% Bi$_2$WO$_6$/ZnWO$_4$) is beneficial because less energy is required to excite the valence electrons. The maximum degradation of Plasmocorinth B dye was found with 30% Bi$_2$WO$_6$/ZnWO$_4$ under UV irradiation. This increased activity of 30% Bi$_2$WO$_6$/ZnWO$_4$ can be attributed to the (i) synergistic effect in the bicrystalline framework of Bi$_2$WO$_6$ and ZnWO$_4$, (ii) the high close contact between Bi$_2$WO$_6$ and ZnWO$_4$, and (iii) the small crystallite size. The photocatalytic activity of synthesized Bi$_2$WO$_6$/ZnWO$_4$ photocatalyst shows its significant potential in water/ wastewater treatment application.

• Language: English
• Keywords: composite photocatalyst, semi-conductivity, tungstate, Plasmocorinth B, band gap, Bi$_2$WO$_6$/ZnWO$_4$ composite photocatalyst
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FKKT - Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: Str. 278-285
• Numbering: Vol. 397/399
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-138857
• UDC: 546.78:544.526.5
• ISSN on article: 0920-5861
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2021.09.012
• COBISS.SI-ID: 77732099
• Publication date in RUL: 23.08.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Catalysis today
• Shortened title: Catal. today
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0920-5861
• COBISS.SI-ID: 15324421

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: kompozitni fotokatalizatorji, polprevodniki, volfram