Precipitation-deposition synthesis, characterization, and visible light-driven photocatalytic properties of heterostructure AgI/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites

AgI nanoparticle-modified Bi2WO6 nanoplates were prepared by a precipitation-deposition method. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy certified the formation of hexagonal AgI nanoparticles with the size of 5-8 nm as minor phase well supported on orthorhombic Bi2WO6 nanoplates as major phase. The photocatalytic properties of heterostructure AgI/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites were investigated through photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) induced by xenon visible light. The 10 wt% AgI/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity because of the recombination rate reduction of photoexcited electrons and photogenerated holes during photocatalysis. A possible photodegradation mechanism of RhB by AgI/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites was proposed and discussed in this research.