Organic-inorganic complex nanoflake photocatalyst PDINH/Bi₂WO₆ with increased visible light catalytic performance

Organic-inorganic complex photocatalyst is constructed via the hydrothermal method. PDINH monolayers self-assemble into lamellar organic supramolecular carriers under π-π stacking. Under acidic conditions, –OH was introduced into Bi₂WO₆ crystal, and the hydrothermal reaction system made it interact better with the –C[dbnd]O bond on PDINH, forming hydrogen-like bond –CO···H, which aggregated on the exterior of PDINH by van der Waals force. The matched energy band situations of the two nanomaterials and the close integrated interfaces promoted the constitution of a nano lamellar structure, which enhanced the charge carrier separation efficiency. The catalyst with a molar ratio of 0.5:0.4 (PDINH: Bi₂WO₆) was synthesized at 140℃ for 24 h and had excellent photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic performance of P/T/B under visible light was evaluated by using 6 ppm aqueous phenol solution as a degradation target. The degradation rate of phenol in aqueous solution was 98% in 350 min. The photocatalytic performance for the degradation of phenol by PDINH/Bi₂WO₆ was increased twice when compared with PDINH, and four times higher than that of pure Bi₂WO₆. Furthermore, the stability of Bi₂WO₆ was reinforced considering the presence of PDINH supramolecular as a carrier, which further improved the recycling and utilization of photocatalyst.