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A C3N4/Bi2WO6 organic-inorganic hybrid photocatalyst with a high visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity

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Abstract

C3N4/Bi2WO6 heterojunction photocatalysts were successfully synthesized using consecutive hydrothermal and calcination processes. These photocatalysts were characterized using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and photoluminescence measurements. The results of these measurements indicated that the Bi2WO6 nanoparticles were approximately 30–50 nm and uniformly distributed on the surface of C3N4 lamellar structures. The 20% C3N4/Bi2WO6 displayed enhanced visible-light absorption from 432 nm to 468 nm. Photocatalytic tests also revealed that the 20% C3N4/Bi2WO6 photocatalyst exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to that of pure C3N4 and Bi2WO6 under irradiation by visible light (λ > 420 nm). Furthermore, the excellent photocatalytic efficiency of the 20% C3N4/Bi2WO6 photocatalyst was determined to be related to the formation of C3N4/Bi2WO6 heterojunctions, and their presence was found to be generally beneficial for the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC Grant No. 51572245)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Key Laboratory of Materials Utilization of Nonmetallic Minerals and Solid Wastes, National Laboratory of Mineral Materials, School of Materials Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    Meng Wang, Minghao Fang, Chao Tang, Lina Zhang, Zhaohui Huang, Yan’gai Liu & Xiaowen Wu

Authors
  1. Meng Wang
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  2. Minghao Fang
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  3. Chao Tang
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  4. Lina Zhang
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  5. Zhaohui Huang
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  6. Yan’gai Liu
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  7. Xiaowen Wu
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Correspondence to Minghao Fang or Zhaohui Huang.

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Wang, M., Fang, M., Tang, C. et al. A C3N4/Bi2WO6 organic-inorganic hybrid photocatalyst with a high visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity. Journal of Materials Research 31, 713–720 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2016.72

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2016.72

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