Facile synthesis of Bi₂WO₆/Bi₂O₃-loaded polyurethane sponge with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity

Abstract

In this study, Bi 2 WO 6 /Bi 2 O 3 -loaded polyurethane sponge composite photocatalyst was successfully synthesized via a facile two-step approach. The composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance, and scanning electron microscopy. The Bi 2 WO 6 /Bi 2 O 3 photocatalyst was successfully loaded on polyurethane sponge and the composite displayed enhanced absorption in the ultraviolet-to-visible light region. Furthermore, the composite exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity and reusability towards the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light. This work demonstrates a facile method for synthesizing Bi 2 WO 6 /Bi 2 O 3 -loaded polyurethane sponge with enhanced photocatalytic activity and easy immobilization of the photocatalyst for application in environmental purification.