Bi2WO6/SiC composite photocatalysts with enhanced photocatalytic performance for dyes degradation

Bi2WO6 demonstrates the limited photocatalytic activity due to its high photoelectron recombination rate. However, its photocatalytic performance is expected to be improved by forming Step-scheme (S-scheme) heterojunction and SiC is a potential candidate because of its high electron transfer rate in photocatalytic process. In this study, S-scheme heterojunction Bi2WO(6) /SiC nanocomposites were synthesized by simple hydrothermal method, and their photo degradation properties for rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light were studied. The results show that silicon carbide nanoparticles have been successfully deposited onto the petal-microsphere shaped Bi2WO(6) phase. The nanocomposite with mole ratio of Bi2WO(6) to SiC of 1:1 exhibits the highest photo degradation rate as tested in the photocatalytic experiments. The photoreaction rate of the nanocomposite is 3.7 times higher than that of pure Bi2WO6 and 15.5 times higher than that of pure SiC, and the nanocomposite demonstrates good photocatalytic stability.