Template-Free Fabrication of Bi2WO6 Hierarchical Hollow Microspheres with Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activity

Highly hierarchical hollow bismuth tungstate (Bi2WO6) microspheres self-assembled by thin nanoplates have been fabricated via a facile template-free solvothermal route. The possible growth pattern and formation mechanism of hierarchical hollow Bi2WO6microspheres was investigated. The excellent visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance on rhodamine B (RhB) degradation was displayed by hierarchical hollow Bi2WO6microspheres. Such well-organized hierarchical hollow Bi2WO6microspheres show potential application in water treatment fields by full use of solar energy.Keywords:bismuth tungstate (Bi2WO6);semiconductor photocatalyst;visible-light-driven;water treatment