Mechanism of formation, structural characteristics and photocatalytic activities of hierarchical-structured bismuth-tungstate particles

The mechanism of the formation of flake ball-shaped (FB) bismuth-tungstate (BWO) particles was studied with samples prepared by hydrothermal reactions under standard conditions (tungsten/bismuth ratio of 0.55 in feed; 433 K; 20 h) and other modified conditions, and the structural characteristics of the samples were analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction (composition and crystal structure), field emission-type scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) (morphology), focused ion-beam etching followed by FE-SEM (inner void structure), ultrahigh-voltage transmission electron microscopy (inner void structure) and low-voltage scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopic analysis (morphology and elemental distribution). Based on the results, a novel two-step mechanism of (1) formation of aqueous bismuth-oxyhydroxide droplets covered by tungstic acid (BOx@HWO) with fluidity and (2) reaction of inner bismuth and outer tungsten components at the BOx@HWO surface to yield BWO flakes is proposed as a one of the most plausible pathways that are consistent with the hollow structure of FB BWO and observations of the products prepared with shorter hydrothermal reaction. Photocatalytic activities of FB BWO samples in relation to their structure were studied.