The three-dimensional flower-like BiWO assisted by ethanolamine through a microwave method for efficient photocatalytic activity.

The three-dimensional flower-like BiWO was synthesized through a one-step microwave method (the reaction temperature was 434 K and the reaction took 10 min) with the assistance of ethanolamine (EA). The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, PL, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis. Methyl orange was used as target pollutant to evaluate the photocatalysis property of samples. Furthermore, the influence of the mechanism of EA on the structure and catalytic performance of BiWO was discussed. The detailed characterizations revealed that the three-dimensional flower-like BiWO was successfully synthesized with the assistance of EA. The results confirmed that EA significantly influenced the morphology of BiWO products. The addition of EA can effectively alter the pressure of the reaction and improve the crystal phase and structure of BiWO photocatalysts, enhancing the photocatalytic activity of samples and improving the photocatalytic efficiency. EA can serve as an assembling agent and structure-directing agent resulting in the formation of flower-like architectures. With the increase of the amount of EA, the as-prepared BiWO sample gradually forms a flower-like structure, leading to a shorter time of light holes migrating to the surface of the catalyst. It makes the compound rate significantly decreased, and improves the photocatalytic efficiency of the sample.