Enhanced photocatalytic activity of Bi₂WO₆/TiO₂composite coated polyester fabric under visible light irradiation

In this study, a visible-light-driven photocatalyst Bi ₂WO ₆/TiO ₂ composite was reported using one-step hydrothermal method and then coated on the polyester fabric. The samples were systematically characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, UV–vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The photocatalytic activity of Bi ₂WO ₆/TiO ₂ coated polyester fabric was evaluated by degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and Methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. The self-cleaning property of the fabrics was assessed through removing red wine stain. The results reveal that the Bi ₂WO ₆/TiO ₂ composites with irregular shape are coated on the polyester fabric successfully. The UV–vis absorption spectra show a broad absorption band in the visible region, which extends the scope of absorption spectrum and helps to improve the photocatalytic degradation efficiency. Photocatalytic activities of the Bi ₂WO ₆/TiO ₂ composite polyester fabric are associated with the content of TiO ₂. Bi ₂WO ₆/15%TiO ₂ coated polyester fabric exhibits the degradation efficiency for RhB and MB up to 98% and 95.1%, respectively, which is much higher than that of pure Bi ₂WO ₆ and TiO ₂ coated polyester fabric. Moreover, Bi ₂WO ₆/15%TiO ₂ coated polyester fabric shows good cycle stability toward continuous three cycles of photocatalytic experiment for dyes degradation. In addition, the Bi ₂WO ₆/TiO ₂ coated polyester fabric shows good self-cleaning property. This work could be extended to design of other composite photocatalyst coating on the fabric for enhancing activity by coupling suitable wide and narrow band-gap semiconductors.