Precipitation-Deposition of Visible-Light-Driven AgCl/Bi2WO6 Nanocomposites used for the Removal of Rhodamine B

In this research, the effect of weight percent of AgCl nanospheres loaded on Bi2WO6 nanoplates for photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) was studied. The Bi2WO6 nanoplates were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and followed by the precipitation-deposition of AgCl nanospheres on Bi2WO6 nanoplates at room temperature. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, including the intermediates of rhodamine B (RhB) that were investigated by m/z mass spectroscopy. The analytical results revealed very good dispersed cubic AgCl nanospheres supported on orthorhombic Bi2WO6 nanoplates. The photocatalytic performance of Bi2WO6 and AgCl/Bi2WO6 samples was monitored through photodegradation of RhB under visible light irradiation. AgCl/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites have photocatalytic activity higher than pure Bi2WO6. A photodegradation mechanism of AgCl/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites was also discussed according to the experimental results.