Novel Ni2+/Cu2+ doped Bi2WO6 nanosheets with enhanced photocatalytic performance under visible light

A series of Ni 2+ /Cu 2+ doped Bi 2 WO 6 nanosheets were successfully fabricated through a simple one-step solvothermal process without any surfactants. Various characterization methods were used to analyze the as-synthesized catalysts. The photocatalytic activity of all catalysts was studied through degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) dyes under visible light illumination. The photocatalytic performance of Bi 2 WO 6 is significantly improved by doping Ni 2+ and Cu 2+ , and the BIW-12 (Ni 2+ /Cu 2+ /Bi 2 WO 6 molar ratios is 1:2:100) sample shows the highest photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, the photo-electro-chemistry measurements were carried out to know that BIW-12 exhibits a low charge-transfer resistance and a significant photocurrent density and to further elucidate the band structure for samples prepared. Also, based on the radical species trapping experiments and Mott-Schottky plots, a possible photogenerated carrier transfer mechanism is proposed. Graphical abstract A series of Ni 2+ /Cu 2+ doped Bi 2 WO 6 nanosheets were successfully fabricated by a simple one-step solvothermal process without any surfactants, and Ni 2+ /Cu 2+ doping in Bi 2 WO 6 increase the potentials of its CB positions and decrease the potentials of its CB positions.