Issue 7, 2020

3D heterogeneous CTF@TiO2/Bi2WO6/Au hybrid supported by hollow carbon tubes and its efficient photocatalytic performance in the UV-vis range

Abstract

Tunable hollow 3D nanostructured materials have attractive photochemical properties and their development is important for improving environmental waste treatment. In this work, a multicomponent 3D heterogeneous CTF@TiO2/Bi2WO6/Au hybrid was prepared and characterized. Calotropis gigantea fiber, a natural biopolymer with a unique hollow structure, was used as a template and carbon source. Gold nanoparticles and Bi2WO6 were assembled on the surface of nano-TiO2, which was supported by the 3D hollow carbon tube fiber (CTF). Benefitting from the controlled assembly of nano-sized Bi2WO6 and Au on the CTF, the UV-visible absorption over the entire visible range from 400 to 800 nm was greatly improved. The 3D structure improved the separation of electrons and holes. The UV-vis light decomposition of a series of organic wastewater pollutants, including organic dyes and antibiotics, was efficiently photocatalyzed. With 50 mL of organic pollutants (10 mg L−1) and 20 mg of photocatalyst, when exposed to a 300 W Hg lamp for 10 min, the CTF@TiO2/Bi2WO6/Au photocatalyst achieved degradation rates of 97.9%, 95.1% and 92.4% for methylene blue (MB), rhodamine B (RhB) and levofloxacin (LOF), respectively. After irradiation for 5 min under a 100 W Xe lamp, the degradation rates of MB, RhB and LOF reached 97.3%, 98.4% and 91.2%, respectively. The photodegradation efficiency of the hybrid was markedly higher than those of previously reported TiO2/Bi2WO6/Au and C/TiO2/Bi2WO6 photocatalysts. The synergy of the multicomponent system and the hollow 3D structure dramatically improved its catalytic efficiency. The 3D heterogeneous CTF@TiO2/Bi2WO6/Au hybrid therefore has the potential to be used as a high-efficiency visible light-driven photocatalyst for the degradation of both organic dyes and antibiotics.

Graphical abstract: 3D heterogeneous CTF@TiO2/Bi2WO6/Au hybrid supported by hollow carbon tubes and its efficient photocatalytic performance in the UV-vis range

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 Mar 2020
Accepted
11 May 2020
First published
12 May 2020

Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2020,7, 2061-2072

3D heterogeneous CTF@TiO2/Bi2WO6/Au hybrid supported by hollow carbon tubes and its efficient photocatalytic performance in the UV-vis range

A. Gao, J. Wang, H. Chen, A. Hou and K. Xie, Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2020, 7, 2061 DOI: 10.1039/D0EN00307G

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