Abstract
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The present study demonstrates the synthesis of pure bismuth iron tungstate (BiFeWO6) and tungsten oxide (WO3) nanorods by simple co-precipitation and hydrothermal methods respectively. Likewise, BiFeWO6/WO3 nanocomposites of different compositions (1, 2 and 3 wt %) were fabricated via convenient wet-chemical route. The fabricated BiFeWO6/WO3 nanocomposites were investigated by numerous methods like X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS) and photoelectrochemical (PEC) studies. Moreover, the photodegradation efficiency of the fabricated composites was demonstrated by photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible-light illumination. In particular, photodegradation results revealed the improved photocatalytic performance of 1% BiFeWO6/WO3 than the independent WO3. This observed enhancement was credited to the restricted recombination rate of charge carriers by the composites leads to their separation. The as-synthesized BiFeWO6/WO3 photocatalytic materials were found to possess a reasonably good photostability, reusability and superior photocatalytic performances than the pure WO3. Therefore, it can be used as a potential photocatalysts towards elimination of various organic pollutants present in aqueous environment. Further, a schematic charge transfer mechanism was also proposed in the present study.