Copper ions induced α-Ag2–2xCuxWO4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.12) solid solutions with favorable sunlight photocatalytic removal of toxic pollutants

Insufficient utilization of sunlight, low separation of photoinduced charge carriers, low reusability are constraints for a photocatalyst to get access to practical applications. Αn efficient sunlight driven α-Ag2–2xCuxWO4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.12) solid solution has been synthesized by hydrothermal method at 150 °C for 5 h without any surfactant. By the combination of the results including X-ray diffraction, Micro-Raman spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer, the lattice substitution of copper atoms with each other and thereby the formation of α-Ag2–2xCuxWO4 solid solution was evidenced. α-Ag2–2xCuxWO4 solid solutions exhibited interesting substitution-dependent band gaps and morphological transformation from the primary nano rod-like structure to deformed square-like shapes with rugose surfaces. Under sunlight irradiation, α-Ag2–2xCuxWO4 (x = 0.09) photocatalyst exhibited excellent photodegradation efficiency on methylene blue (MB) (98.92%) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) antibiotic (86.72%) degradation, which is higher than the pristine α-Ag2WO4 catalyst. The 0.09 ACW photocatalyst rate constant for MB (0.0446 min−1) and TC antibiotic (0.0098 min−1) degradation was around 3.62 and 2.33 times greater than that of pristine α-Ag2WO4. The α-Ag2–2xCuxWO4 solid solution gave a positive influence on its photocatalytic activity for toxic pollutants mineralization with the advantages of suitable bandgap, enhanced photon utilization efficiency, and adequate potential of the valence band (VB). The 0.09 ACW photocatalyst exhibited excellent efficiency on a wide range of pH from 5.0 to 9.0. The trapping measurement results confirmed that the holes (h+) played a key role in the photocatalytic degradation process and the possible photocatalytic degradation mechanism. The degradation efficiency of 0.09 ACW catalyst further showed superior stability after five cycle tests. [Display omitted] •A promising α-Ag2–2xCuxWO4 solid solutions were prepared by hydrothermal method.•Degradation of MB (98.92 %) and TC antibiotic (86.72 %) is achieved under sunlight for α-Ag2-2xCuxWO4 (x = 0.09) photocatalyst.•Cu ions enhance the sunlight absorption efficiency and separate the photoinduced charge carriers of α-Ag2WO4.•Possible reaction mechanism was elucidated for the improved photocatalytic performance.