INVESTIGATION OF THE PROPERTIES AND ENHANCED PHOTOCATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF Bi₂WO₆/g-C₃N₄ COMPOSITE MATERIALS

Authors

  • Luc Huy Hoang Institute of Natural Sciences, Hanoi National University of Education, Hanoi city, Vietnam; Faculty of Physics, Hanoi National University of Education, Hanoi city, Vietnam
  • Tu Nhu Hanh Faculty of Physics, Hanoi National University of Education, Hanoi city, Vietnam
  • Vu Quoc Trung Faculty of Physics, Hanoi National University of Education, Hanoi city, Vietnam
  • Nguyen Dang Phu Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications, University of Engineering and Technology, Vietnam National University, Hanoi city, Vietnam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18173/2354-1059.2025-0023

Keywords:

composite materials, photocatalytic activity, hydrothermal method, semiconductor, heterojunction

Abstract

Bi₂WO₆/g-C₃N₄ composite materials with varying g-C3N4 weight fractions (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) were successfully synthesized using a combined microwave-hydrothermal method. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Photocatalytic performance was evaluated by the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under simulated sunlight, employing a cutoff filter to eliminate wavelengths below 400 nm. The incorporation of g-C3N4 into Bi₂WO₆ was found to significantly modify its morphology and enhance its optical absorption. All composite samples exhibited superior photocatalytic activity compared to pure Bi₂WO₆, with the 10 wt% g-C3N4 composite achieving the highest degradation rate, approximately seven times that of pristine Bi₂WO₆. This enhancement is primarily attributed to the formation of a Z-scheme heterojunction between Bi₂WO₆ and g-C3N4, which promotes efficient charge separation and suppresses electron-hole recombination via electron trap centers.

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Published

30-06-2025

Issue

Volume 70, Issue 2, 2025: Natural Sciences

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Huy Hoang, L., Nhu Hanh, T., Quoc Trung, V., & Dang Phu, N. (2025). INVESTIGATION OF THE PROPERTIES AND ENHANCED PHOTOCATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF Bi₂WO₆/g-C₃N₄ COMPOSITE MATERIALS. Journal of Science Natural Science, 70(2), 78-90. https://doi.org/10.18173/2354-1059.2025-0023