Microwave Induced Morphology Evolution of Bismuth Tungstate Photocatalyst: Evaulation of Phocatalytic Activity Under Visible Light

Bismuth tungstate photocatalyst was synthesized by facile microwave hydrothermal method and the morphology evolution was investigated under wide range of microwave irradiation time. Structural, morphological, compositional and optical properties were analyzed by means of X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS) methods. Photocatalytic activity was performed by the decomposition of Rhodamine B (Rh B) under visible light irradiation. Results revealed that the microwave irradiation time is crucial in order to control the morphology of bismuth tungstate nanoparticles. Different morphologies were obtained under different microwave irradiation time and the best conditions of microwave irradiation time for the best photocatalytic activity under visible light were investigated which proves that the microwave could induce various morphology of bismuth tungstate photocatalyst to exhibit the best photocatalytic activity under visible light.