Facile synthesis of Pd-doped Bi₂WO₆ nanoplates used for enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalysis

Abstract

Visible-light-driven Bi₂WO₆ nanoplates doped with different contents of Pd were prepared by hydrothermal method. Phase, morphology, atomic vibration, oxidation state and optical properties were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The pure sample was orthorhombic Bi₂WO₆ nanoplates. Upon being doped with Pd, the phase is still remaining as that of the pure one. The nanoplates were decreased in size with increasing in the content of Pd dopant. The 3% Pd-doped Bi₂WO₆ nanoplates have the best photocatalytic efficiency of 99.33% because h⁺ and ^●O₂⁻ are the main active radicals in degrading of rhodamine B illuminated by visible radiation.

Keywords:

• Pd-doped Bi₂WO₆ nanoplates
• X-ray diffraction
• Photocatalysis
• Spectroscopy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The research was supported under National Science, Research and Innovation Fund (NSRF) and Prince of Songkla University (Grant No TAE6505097M) and Center of Excellence in Materials Science and Technology, Chiang Mai University, Thailand.