Microwave hydrothermally synthesized WO3/UiO-66 nanocomposites toward enhanced photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B

A novel nanocomposite (WO3/UiO-66) was successfully synthesized by the microwave hydrothermal method. The influence of the W:Zr molar ratio on the WO3/UiO-66 structure was explored in detail, and the photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposite for photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) was evaluated. The WO3/UiO-66 with a W:Zr molar ratio of 1:5 (WO3/UiO-66-5) exerted the most excellent photocatalytic performance, and the photocatalytic efficiency reached 96.6% after 100 min of simulated sunlight irradiation, thereby showing a higher photocatalytic performance than pure UiO-66 or pure WO3. In addition, the stability and reusability of the nanocomposite were studied by cyclic experiments, and the degradation rate of WO3/UiO-66-5 still reached 86.6% after 5 cycles. The mechanism underlying the photocatalytic degradation of WO3/UiO-66 was finally studied by quenching tests, and the crucial factor in the RhB degradation was hole (h(+)), and the existence of the n-n heterojunction also promotes the degradation of RhB by nanocomposites. In this work, an effective method is provided for the preparation of photocatalysts that degrade organic dyes.

Automated summary

A novel nanocomposite (WO3/UiO-66) with excellent photocatalytic performance for the photodegradation of rhodamine B was successfully synthesized. The nanocomposite with a W:Zr molar ratio of 1:5 exhibited the best photocatalytic efficiency, reaching 96.6% degradation after 100 minutes of simulated sunlight irradiation. This study provides an effective method for preparing photocatalysts for degrading organic dyes.