Preparation of nanosized Bi2WO6 using different content of starting materials and their photoactivities

A series of nanosized Bi2WO6 catalysts was synthesized using various starting materials, and they were characterized by X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Rhodamine-B (RhB) photodegradation in aqueous medium was employed as a probe reaction to test the photoactivity of the as-prepared samples. Dependence of the photocatalytic activities on different contents of the starting materials was examined under visible irradiation (lambda > 400 nm). The sample prepared in the following conditions: reaction time 24 h, the pH of the solution 7, the Bi3+ amount in the start precipitates 5 mmol - exhibited the highest photochemical activity when the hydrothermal temperature was settled at 180A degrees C.