Novel La-doped Bi2WO6 photocatalysts with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity

Novel La-doped Bi2WO6 composites were successfully prepared via a facile solvothermal method and well characterized by X-ray diffraction, Brunner-Emmet-Teller measurements, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy/high-resolution, energy dispersive spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of modified catalysts was evaluated by degrading tetracycline hydrochloride under visible light (450 W Xe lamp irradiation). It was found 5%La-Bi2WO6 had the highest light-absorption ability, great morphology, and microstructures. The La dopant enlarged surface area and increased crystal defects, which may enhance the optical absorption activity and inhibit the recombination of the photo-generated charge carrier, respectively. After 150 min illumination, the photocatalysts that 5%La-Bi2WO6 and pure Bi2WO6 exhibited the best and worst photocatalytic performance, respectively (96.25% vs. 88.92%). [GRAPHICS] .