Preparation and optical properties of three-dimensional navel-like Bi2WO6 hierarchical microspheres

Three-dimensional (3D) navel-like Bi2WO6 (BWO) hierarchical microspheres (HMSs) were successfully prepared using a simple hydrothermal method. The as-obtained BWO samples were characterized by a variety of techniques. XRD result indicated that the as-synthesized samples were well-crystallized orthorhombic phase Bi2WO6 structure. SEM observations revealed that the hierarchical microspheres with an average diameter of 2 mu m were built from several dozen of nanosheets. UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrum study revealed that the obtained BWO sample had band gap energy of about 3.3 eV. Photoluminescence (PL) result showed that the sample had weak emission intensity. The BET specific surface area of the BWO sample was about 35.40 m(2)/g. The photocatalytic efficiency of the as-obtained BWO was evaluated by the degradation of norfloxacin (NOR) antibiotic. The result showed an about 67% NOR degradation in 8 h. (C) 2018 Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.