Photocatalytic activity of natural clay Bentonite supported ZnWO4

Abstract

Natural clay Bentonite supported ZnWO₄ has been successfully synthesized through hydrothermal-thermal decomposition method. The experimental results reveal that 12 wt% of Bentonite supported ZnWO₄ exhibited higher photocatalytic activity for the degradation of two basic dyes (Rhodamine-B (Rh-B) and Methylene Blue (MB) under UV light than prepared ZnWO_4. Bentonite-ZnWO₄(BZW) was characterized by X–ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE–SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), field emission transmission electron microscopy (FE–TEM), X-ray photo electron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and BET surface area analysis. FESEM images exhibit the formation of microflakes, which have been joined together by an edge-to-flat-surface conjunction. From the BET analysis it has been found that BZW has higher surface than prepared ZnWO₄. As synthesized Bentonite supported ZnWO₄ has high recyclability for four successive cycles.