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Ag-functionalized Bi2W(Mo)O6/PVDF membrane for photocatalytic water treatment

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Abstract

Costly and time-consuming recovery of photocatalysts from treated water is one of the main challenges for the photocatalysis process. In this regard, an Ag-functionalized Bi2W(Mo)O6 photocatalyst was successfully synthesized via a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-assisted hydrothermal method, immobilized on a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane and subsequently used for photocatalytic water treatment. The flower-like Ag-decorated Bi2W(Mo)O6 photocatalyst revealed a significant enhancement (62%) in the photocatalytic degradation efficiency compared to the unmodified pure Bi2WO6 (19%) due to the synergic contribution of the flower-like morphology with higher surface area, decrease in band gap by Mo doping and Ag-induced surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effects. In order to immobilize the photocatalyst, the Ag-decorated Bi2W(Mo)O6 nanoparticles were distributed uniformly on the surface of the PVDF membrane. The results illustrate that the as-prepared Ag-loaded Bi2W(Mo)O6/PVDF composite membrane effectively degrades the organic molecules (51%) without any additional process for the photocatalyst separation, confirming its potential as a beneficial environmental-friendly material for water treatment applications.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Color & Polymer Research Center (CPRC) for supporting this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Polymer Engineering and Color Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), 15875-4413, Tehran, Iran

    H. Mortazavi Milani & A. A. Sabbagh Alvani

  2. Color & Polymer Research Center (CPRC), Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), 1591634311, Tehran, Iran

    H. Mortazavi Milani, A. A. Sabbagh Alvani, R. Salimi & H. Sameie

  3. Lumilab, Department of Solid State Sciences, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    D. Poelman

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  1. H. Mortazavi Milani
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Correspondence to A. A. Sabbagh Alvani.

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Mortazavi Milani, H., Sabbagh Alvani, A.A., Salimi, R. et al. Ag-functionalized Bi2W(Mo)O6/PVDF membrane for photocatalytic water treatment. J Mater Sci 56, 16339–16350 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-021-06343-w

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