Hydrothermal synthesis of visible-light-driven hierarchical Bi3.84W0.16O6.24 photocatalysts toward efficient degradation of methyl orange

In the work, visible-light-driven hierarchical Bi3.84W0.16O6.24 photocatalysts have been synthesized by a facile hydrothermal strategy. The micro-structures and photocatalytic activities of Bi3.84W0.16O6.24 photocatalysts were finely tuned just by adjusting the pH values of reaction solutions with different alkalis. The as-prepared samples were physically characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and ultraviolet–visible diffraction reflection spectroscopy. When evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) under the visible-light irradiation, Bi3.84W0.16O6.24 samples with distinct micro-structures showed different photocatalytic activities. Of Note, the hierarchical Bi3.84W0.16O6.24 sub-microspheres constructed by nanoflake building blocks demonstrated the highest photocatalytic activity for the degradation of MO under the visible-light irradiation.