ZnO nanosheets-decorated BiWO nanolayers as efficient photocatalysts for the removal of toxic environmental pollutants and photoelectrochemical solar water oxidation.

Herein we report the fabrication of novel BiWO/ZnO heterostructured hybrids for organic contaminant degradation from wastewater and photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting upon solar illumination. The BiWO/ZnO photocatalysts were synthesized using a simple and eco-friendly hydrothermal process without the support of any surfactants. From the photocatalytic experiments, heterostructured BiWO/ZnO nanohybrid catalysts exhibited considerably better photocatalytic performance for rhodamine B (RhB) degradation under solar illumination. The BWZ-20 nanocomposite demonstrated superior photodegradation of RhB dye up to 99% in about 50 min. Furthermore, BWZ-20 photoelectrode showeda lower charge-transfer resistance than other samples prepared, suggesting its suitability for PEC water splitting. The photocurrent densities of BiWO/ZnO photoelectrodes were evaluated under the solar irradiation. The BWZ-20 photoelectrode exhibited a significant photocurrent density (0.45 × 10A/cm) at +0.3 V vs. Ag/AgCl, which was~1036-times higher than that of pure BiWO, and ~4.8-times greater than the pure ZnO. Such improved photocatalytic and PEC activities are mainly attributed to the formation of an interface between ZnO and BiWO, superior light absorption ability, low charge-transfer resistance, remarkable production of charge carriers, easy migration of charges, and suppression of the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers.