Novel hydrostable Z-scheme Ag/CsPbBr3/Bi2WO6 photocatalyst for effective degradation of Rhodamine B in aqueous solution

In this study, a hydrostable Z-scheme Ag/CsPbBr3/Bi2WO6 photocatalyst was designed and fabricated for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB). The structural instability of CsPbX3 perovskites in water is one of the main obstacles that restrict their practical application in photocatalytic wastewater treatment. The photocatalyst was prepared in three steps: passivation of CsPbBr3 nanocrystals (NCs) with 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), construction of a heterojunction between MPA-passivated CsPbBr3 NCs and Bi2WO6 ultrathin nanosheets, and doping Ag nanoparticles as charge mediators in the heterojunction. The as-obtained 5%Ag/20%CsPbBr3/Bi2WO6 exhibits good stability and excellent photocatalytic activity. The degradation rate is 93.9% in 120 min, which is 4.41 times than that of Bi2WO6.