Influence of synthesis methods on physical and photocatalytic properties of Bi₂WO₆ for decomposition of organic dyes and Cr(VI) reduction

This article reports preparation of Bi₂WO₆ using solid-state and solution combustion methods. Different physicochemical characterization techniques such as XRD, SEM, TEM, BET-N₂ adsorption study, UV-vis, XPS and photoluminescence spectroscopy were used to examine crystalline phase, optical and morphological properties of synthesized Bi₂WO₆ samples. The evaluation of prepared photocatalyst for methyl orange degradation, Cr(VI) reduction under visible light and rhodamine B degradation under direct sunlight was carried out. The sample prepared by a solution combustion route, exhibited superior photocatalytic activities than that prepared by a traditional solid-state route. (author)