FeWO4 nanorods with excellent UV–Visible light photocatalysis

FeWO4 nanorods were synthesized through a hydrothermal progress with the assistant of L-cysteine. The synthesized FeWO4 nanorods were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, Raman spectrometer, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy,energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The optical property, photocatalytic activity and magnetic property of the synthesized FeWO4 nanorods were investigated. The photodecomposition of Methyl orange for FeWO4 nanorods depends on the wavelength of the irradiating light. Under ultraviolet-visible light irradiation, FeWO4 nanorods show higher photocatalytic activity for the decomposition of Methyl orange than that of ultraviolet light irradiation. A possible mechanism of FeWO4 on the decomposition of Methyl orange was proposed. The value of Néel temperature is lower than that of bulk FeWO4, which is associated with the size effects and the shape of the synthesized FeWO4 nanorods.