Facile Fabrication of Z-Scheme Bi2WO6/WO3 Composites for Efficient Photodegradation of Bisphenol A with Peroxymonosulfate Activation

The rational fabrication of direct Z-scheme heterostructures photocatalysts is a pivotal strategy to boost the interfacial charge migration and separation. Herein, direct Z-scheme Bi2WO6/WO3composites were rationally fabricated for the degradation of bisphenol A combined with the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). The tight interface contact between Bi2WO6and WO3was successfully formed by the in situ epitaxial growth of ultrathin Bi2WO6nanosheets at the surface of WO3nanorods. The Bi2WO6/WO3composite presented highly efficient catalytic performance toward degradation of BPA with PMS activation as compared to the WO3and Bi2WO6. PMS can dramatically boost the photocatalytic activity of the composites. Moreover, the results of active radical scavenging experiments revealed thath+, •O2−, and •SO4−are critical active species in the photodegradation reaction. Finally, the photocatalytic mechanism for the degradation of BPA is also discussed in detail. The great improvement of photocatalytic performance should be ascribed to the effective formation of the direct Z-scheme heterojunctions between Bi2WO6and WO3, resulting in improved light absorption, an efficient transfer and separation of photoinduced charge carriers, and a considerable amount of the electrons and holes with strong reduction and oxidation abilities. The study might provide new inspirations to design and construct heterostructured nanomaterials with outstanding photoactivity for environmental remediation.Keywords:bisphenol A;peroxymonosulfate;photocatalysis;composites;Z-scheme