Photocatalytic activities of ZnWO4 and Bi@ZnWO4 nanorods

In the current work, the ZnWO4 and Bi@ZnWO4 nanorods were synthesized. The phase composition, microstructure, optical and photochemical properties, as well as the photocatalytic activity to RhB of ZnWO4 and Bi@ZnWO4 were investigated. The XRD and XPS results suggest that Bi has been successfully deposited on the surface of ZnWO4. The TEM and BET measurements suggest that the Bi deposition has no obvious influence on the microstructure of ZnWO4. The Bi@ZnWO4 exhibits the higher photocatalytic activity than that of ZnWO4, which originates from the greater light absorption and more efficient separation of e(-) - h(+) pairs. In the photocatalysis of RhB, center dot O-2(-) and center dot OH radicals play important roles.