Ionic liquid-induced strategy for FeWO4 microspheres with advanced visible light photocatalysis

Novel ferrous tungstate (FeWO4) microspheres have been first synthesized via a ethylene glycol (EG)-assisted solvothermal process in the presence of reactable ionic liquid 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrachloroferrate [Omim]FeCl4. The as-prepared FeWO4 materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDS), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and photocurrent. During the preparation process, [Omim]FeCl4 played important roles as reactant and template at the same time. Moreover, the photocatalytic activities of FeWO4 microspheres were evaluated on the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. FeWO4 microspheres exhibited a significant improved photocatalytic performance for degradation of RhB under visible light irradiation. A possible mechanism of FeWO4 on the enhancement of visible light performance was proposed. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.