One-pot hydrothermal synthesis of Bi2O2CO3/Bi2WO6 visible light photocatalyst with enhanced photocatalytic activity

A novel Bi2O2CO3/Bi2WO6 composite photocatalyst is synthesized via a one-pot hydrothermal route. The as-prepared composite is assembled by many Bi2O2CO3 and Bi2WO6 nanosheets, forming a unique hybrid nanostructure. The investigation on the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under the Xe light illumination reveals that the Bi2O2CO3/Bi2WO6 composite exhibits higher photocatalytic activity than single phase Bi2O2CO3 or Bi2WO6. The enhanced photocatalytic performance can be attributed to the improved light absorption ability and the reduced recombination of photoexcited electrons and holes during photocatalytic reactions. Moreover, a possible reaction pathway of the Bi2O2CO3/Bi2WO6 composite is proposed. The one-pot hydrothermal method developed in this study provides an example of simultaneous synthesis of two Bi-containing Aurivillius-related phases with enhanced photocatalytic activity.