Microwave-Assisted Deposition Synthesis and Characterization of Heterostructure Pd/Bi2WO6 Nanocomposites with Enhanced Photocatalytic Properties Induced by Visible-Light Radiation

Heterostructure Pd/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites were successful synthesized in ethylene glycol by microwave-assisted deposition method at 300 W for 10 min. Effect of the loaded Pd on phase, composition, morphology, and visible-light-driven photocatalytic properties of Bi2WO6 was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), fast Fourier transform (FFT) diffraction, UV–visible absorption, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In this research, good distribution of spherical cubic Pd nanoparticles with particle size of 15–20 nm supported on orthorhombic Bi2WO6 thin nanoplates. The 10% Pd/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites reveal major metallic Pd0 species containing in Bi2WO6 sample. Photocatalytic activities of Bi2WO6 loaded with different weight contents of Pd were monitored through photodegradation of cationic rhodamine B (RhB) dye under visible light irradiation of a xenon lamp. The 10% Pd/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites have the highest photocatalytic activity because Pd nanoparticles as electron acceptors promoted interfacial charge-transfer through Pd/Bi2WO6 heterojunctions.