Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B by Bi2WO6-Reduced Graphene Oxide Composites Prepared via Microwave-Assisted Method

Bi2WO6-reduced graphene oxide (RGO) composites were successfully synthesized via microwave-assisted reduction of graphite oxide in Bi2WO6 precursor solution using a microwave system. Their morphologies, structures, and photocatalytic performance in the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, respectively. The results show that the RGO addition can enhance the photocatalytic performance of Bi2WO6. Bi2WO6-RGO composite with 0.8 wt% RGO achieves a maximum RhB degradation rate at 240 min under visible light irradiation, much higher than that for Bi2WO6 (72%). The enhanced photocatalytic performance is ascribed to the increased light absorption and the reduction in electron-hole pair recombination in Bi2WO6 with the introduction of RGO.