Influence of Yb dopant on visible-light-driven photocatalytic properties of Bi2WO6 nanoplates prepared by hydrothermal method

In this study, Bi2WO6 thin nanoplates containing different weight contents of Yb dopant were synthesized by the hydrothermal method. XRD patterns of Bi2WO6 with and without Yb dopant were indexed to the pure phase of the orthorhombic Bi2WO6 structure. SEM and TEM analyses of Bi2WO6 with and without Yb dopant showed that the samples were composed of thin square nanoplates with a size of 100-200 nm for Bi2WO6 and 50-100 nm for Yb-doped Bi2WO6. The UV–Vis DRS analysis shows that the visible region optical absorption of Bi2WO6 nanoplates was enhanced by Yb dopant. Effect of Yb dopant on photocatalytic activity of Bi2WO6 was investigated through the RhB degradation under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared 2% Yb-doped Bi2WO6 thin nanoplates was the highest of 91.28% in degrading of RhB within 210 min. The active species involved in the RhB degradation over 2% Yb-doped Bi2WO6 thin nanoplates was investigated and discussed according to the experimental results. Research Highlights • 0–3% Yb-doped Bi2WO6 nanoplates were synthesized by hydrothermal method. • Effect of Yb dopant on photocatalytic activity of nanoplates was analyzed. • 2% Yb was the promising content for RhB degradation under visible radiation.