Influences of Gd Substitution on the Crystal Structure and Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Performance of Bi₂WO₆

Abstract

Different samples of gadolinium (Gd)-doped Bi2WO6 were obtained by hydrothermal means, and their photocatalytic activities for degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible-light irradiation were researched. The successful incorporation of Gd3+ ions into Bi2WO6 was detected by XRD and XPS, and the prepared samples have also been characteriazed by SEM, TEM, HRTEM, DRS, and PL. The results suggested that Gd doping has great influences on the visible-light photocatalytic activity as well as the microstructure. Appropriate doping content greatly improve photocatalytic activity due to the electron shallow-trapping mechanism for the efficient separation of electron and hole pairs, and the 1% Gd–Bi2WO6 sample with flower-like structure exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity. It has already been confirmed by photocurrent generation and electrochemical impedance spectra. The present research provides a simple and valid method for improving the visible-light-responding photocatalytic activity and fabricating hierarchical architectures of Bi2WO6.

Novel Y doped Bi2WO6 photocatalyst: Hydrothermal fabrication, characterization and enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity for Rhodamine B degradation and photocurrent generation

“…8. As reported in the literature, Bi 2 WO 6 is an indirect-allowed semiconductor [20]. The band gap of the Bi 2 WO 6 and 1% Y-Bi 2 WO 6 were estimated to be 2.72 eV and 2.76 eV, respectively (inset of Fig.…”

“…ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 4 group demonstrated that the substitution of rare-earth ions Gd 3+ [20] and Ce 3+ [21] for Bi 3+ can greatly improve the photocatalytic performance of Bi 2 WO 6 .…”

Tungsten-based nanomaterials (WO 3 & Bi 2 WO 6 ): Modifications related to charge carrier transfer mechanisms and photocatalytic applications

“…Xu et al reported that evolution of nanoflake-like morphology by Eu doping was found to be the main factor for high activity, rather than change in the bandgap absorption properties [218]. Among the rare earth ions (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd), the dopants like La, Gd and Eu was found to promote the photoactivity, while Pr doping exhibited least performance [218][219][220].…”

Highly active magnetic bismuth tungstate/magnetite composite under visible light irradiation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide

“…In order to improve catalytic efficiency, Bi 2 WO 6 different morphology and crystal structures were synthesized [8,9]. Another effective technique is to dope Bi 2 WO 6 with metal, or metal oxide, which might trap the photogenerated electrons and restrain the recombination of hole-electron pair [10][11][12][13].…”