Performance optimization of Bi3+ and Cu2+ -doped ZnWO4 photocatalytic materials

Owing to the increasing problem of environmental pollution, there is an urgent need for catalytic materials that can completely decompose organic pollutants into environmentally friendly substances. However, the practical application of ZnWO4 photocatalyst is limited by its wide band gap and low quantum efficiency. ZnWO4 nano materials were synthesized via doping Bi3+ and Cu2+ to enhance their photocatalytic activity by hydrothermal method at 180 °C in this paper. Methylene blue (MB) as the target to degrade organic pollutants, the UV degradation ability of the system was investigated, and ZnWO4 nano-doped material with the best photocatalytic performance was obtained. The results show that the photodegradation efficiency of 3 mol% Bi-ZnWO4 reaches 99% within 120 min of UV irradiation, which is 1.3 times of that of pure ZnWO4; Cu-ZnWO4 has excellent photocatalytic properties, and the photodegradation efficiency of 3 mol% Cu-ZnWO4 reaches 99.4% after 90 min of UV irradiation. Cu2+ doping can adjust the band gap of ZnWO4, resulting in the redshift of its absorption edge.