Sunlight-induced photocatalytic performance of Bi2WO6 hierarchical microspheres synthesized via a relatively green hydrothermal route

A relatively green hydrothermal route was employed to successfully synthesize Bi2WO6 hierarchical microspheres assembled by nanosheets. As-synthesized Bi2WO6 was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption and desorption isotherms and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. In acidic and neutral solutions, Bi2WO6 hierarchical microspheres exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance for Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation under simulated sunlight irradiation. Bi2WO6 microspheres could keep stable in acidic and basic solutions. The photodegradation of RhB was achieved by holes and O-2(center dot-) radicals attack in the Bi2WO6 microspheres suspension. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.