Influence of Fe dopant concentrations on physicochemical and photocatalytic properties of Bi2WO6/CeO2 nanocomposites for rhodamine B degradation

Authors

• Natda Wetchakun * ¹
• Khatcharin Wetchakun ²
• Sumet Sakulsermsuk ¹

1. Program of Physics, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University, Ubon Ratchathani, 34000, Thailand
2. Department of Physics and Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Photocatalysts and 2D Materials Research Laboratory, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand

Abstract

Fe-doped Bi₂WO₆/CeO₂ nanocomposite materials were prepared by co-precipitation and hydrothermal methods. The physicochemical properties and photocatalytic activities of Bi₂WO₆/CeO₂ nanocomposites after doping with Fe³⁺ ions were systematically investigated. The 0.2Fe-doped Bi₂WO₆/CeO₂ nanocomposites exhibited the optimal photocatalytic activity in the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB), reaching to 62% degradation after 120 min irradiation, which was 10.3 and 2.7 times higher than CeO₂ and Bi₂WO₆, respectively. The improved photocatalytic activity was mainly ascribed to the enhanced charge carrier separation efficiency of the direct Z-scheme heterojunction system. Moreover, the effective trapping of photogenerated electrons and holes by iron ions inhibits the electron–hole recombination. By a trapping experiment, the main radicals (O₂^·−) in the photocatalysis experiment were further ascertained. Finally, we proposed the photocatalytic mechanism of Fe-doped Bi₂WO₆/CeO₂ nanocomposite for RhB degradation.

Keywords

• Nanocomposite
• Photocatalytic Activity
• Wastewater treatment
• Bi2WO6/CeO2
• Iron doping