A Bi2WO6-based hybrid heterostructures photocatalyst with enhanced photodecomposition and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution through Z-scheme process

• Published in: Journal of industrial and engineering chemistry (Seoul, Korea) Vol. 69; pp. 345 - 357
• Main Authors: Arif, Muhammad, Min, Zhang, Yuting, Luo, Yin, Hongfei, Liu, Xiaoheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 25.01.2019; 한국공업화학회
• Subjects: Bi2WO6-based hybrid photocatalyst; Heterostructures; Hydrogen evolution; 화학공학; Bi2WO6-based hybrid photocatalyst; Hydrogen evolution; Heterostructures
• ISSN: 1226-086X; 1876-794X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2018.09.026

[Display omitted] •Bi2WO6/CdS heterostructures was facilely synthesized by two step solvothermal method.•Bi2WO6/CdS used as a promising support for depositing Pt nanoclusters.•Compatibility of high specific surface area and mesoporous Bi2WO6/CdS.•Efficient interfacial electron transfer between Bi2WO6 and CdS through Z-scheme process.•Pt-Bi2WO6/CdS as efficient visible light driven photocatalysts for dye decomposition and hydrogen production. A Bi2WO6-based hybrid heterostructure photocatalyst were fabricated by two step hydrothermal method. Bi2WO6 nanosheets with side length of 100–200nm and thickness and about 20nm thickness was homogeneously overcoated at the surface of CdS nanowires with an average diameter of 50nm. The formation of hybrid heterostructures could efficiently enhanced the photocatalytic activity. The hybrid heterostructures photocatalyst of Bi2WO6/CdS achieved the highest photocatalytic H2 evolution (1223μmolh−1g−1) under visible light irradiation which is much higher than the pristine CdS (602μmolh−1g−1). Furthermore, the photocatalytic pollutant decomposition efficiency of hybrid heterostructures was well promoted compare to Bi2WO6 and CdS. The role of main oxidative species in the photocatalytic process was confirmed by the active species trapping experiments. The experimental results concluded that the enhanced photocatalytic activity and photostability of hybrid heterostructures is mainly associated with the Z-scheme photocatalytic charge transfer of the photogenerated charge carriers. Based on the obtained experimental results and calculation, a precise Z-scheme mechanism was proposed and discussed, which was further evaluated by the electrochemical spectroscopic study of the prepared photocatalyst. The Z-scheme photocatalytic system bestows the Bi2WO6/CdS hybrid heterostructures with efficient reducibility, stability and excellent oxidizability.