Bi₂O₃−Bi₂WO₆ Composite Microspheres: Hydrothermal Synthesis and Photocatalytic Performances

Abstract

Chrysanthemum-analogous Bi₂O₃−Bi₂WO₆ composite microspheres, assembled by nanosheets, were synthesized through a one-step hydrothermal route with the aid of surfactant templates. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed to clarify the structure and morphology of the Bi₂O₃−Bi₂WO₆ microspheres. Nitrogen adsorption and desorption isotherms were conducted to examine the specific surface area and the pore nature of the as-prepared microspheres. The photocatalytic activity of the Bi₂O₃−Bi₂WO₆ composite microspheres was evaluated by using rhodamine B as a model contaminant, and over 99% of rhodamine B was degraded within 10 min under the exposure of sunlight. The Bi₂O₃−Bi₂WO₆ composite microspheres presented enhanced photocatalytic performances compared with separate Bi₂O₃, Bi₂WO₆, and conventional P25.