Facile hydrothermal synthesis of TiO2–Bi2WO6 hollow superstructures with excellent photocatalysis and recycle properties

Abstract

One-dimensional mesoporous TiO₂–Bi₂WO₆ hollow superstructures are prepared using a hydrothermal method and their photocatalysis and recycle properties are investigated. Experimental results indicate that anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles are coupled with hierarchical Bi₂WO₆ hollow tubes on their surfaces. The TiO₂–Bi₂WO₆ structure has a mesoporous wall and the pores in the wall are on average 21 nm. The hierarchical TiO₂–Bi₂WO₆ heterostructures exhibit the highest photocatalytic activity in comparison with P25, pure Bi₂WO₆ hollow tube and mechanical mixture of Bi₂WO₆ tube and TiO₂ nanoparticle in the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under simulated sunlight irradiation. The as-prepared TiO₂–Bi₂WO₆ heterostructures can be easily recycled through sedimentation and they retains their high photocatalytic activity during the cycling use in the simulated sunlight-driving photodegradation process of RhB. The prepared mesoporous TiO₂–Bi₂WO₆ with hollow superstructure is therefore a promising candidate material for water decontamination use.