Enhanced visible light photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B by Bi₂WO₆-reduced graphene oxide composites prepared via microwave-assisted method

Bi₂ WO₆ -reduced graphene oxide (RGO) composites were successfully synthesized via microwaveassisted reduction of graphite oxide in Bi₂ WO₆ precursor solution using a microwave system. Their morphologies, structures, and photocatalytic performance in the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, respectively. The results show that the RGO addition can enhance the photocatalytic performance of Bi₂ WO₆ . Bi₂ WO₆ -RGO composite with 0.8 wt% RGO achieves a maximum RhB degradation rate at 240 min under visible light irradiation, much higher than that for Bi₂ WO₆ (72%). The enhanced photocatalytic performance is ascribed to the increased light absorption and the reduction in electron-hole pair recombination in Bi2 WO6 with the introduction of RGO.