Photocatalytic properties of Bi2WO6/BiPO4 Z-scheme photocatalysts induced by double internal electric fields

Bi2WO6/BiPO4 Z-scheme photocatalysts were prepared via an ultrasonic chemical method. The internal polar electric fields of Bi2WO6 and BiPO4 induced an external electric field between the two materials, generating P-O-W bonds at the interfaces and anchoring the (2 0 0) facets of BiPO4 to the (2 0 0) facets of Bi2WO6. Thus, Bi2WO6/BiPO4 Z-scheme heterojunctions were formed at the interfaces. Under simulated solar-light irradiation, the Bi2WO6/BiPO4 Z-scheme photocatalysts exhibited an enhanced dye decoloration rate, which reached approximately 1.88 times and 4.29 times higher than those of Bi2WO6 and BiPO4, respectively. Bi2WO6/BiPO4 Z-scheme photocatalysts can degrade methylene blue with higher efficiency and more thoroughly than Bi2WO6 .