Hydro/solvothermally synthesized bismuth tungstate nanocatalysts for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of dyes, antibiotics, and bacteria in wastewater: A review

Photocatalysis is a green, efficient, and promising technology for the degradation of pollutants and disinfection of bacteria in wastewater. Bismuth tungstate (Bi2WO6, BWO) belonging to the Aurivillius family has a unique crystal structure and exhibits strong visible-light-absorption ability and high catalytic performance. However, rapid recombination of electron-hole pairs in BWO and small specific surface area of BWO limit its practical applications in pollutant degradation. Several strategies have been reported for the synthesis of BWO catalysts with various morphologies and high photocatalytic activities. Herein, we review the photocatalytic mechanism of BWO and summarize the photocatalytic characteristics of BWO catalysts with different morphologies prepared using hydrothermal/solvothermal methods. Modification engineering of BWO nanomaterials by element doping, metal loading, and heterojunction construction to improve the physicochemical properties of these nanomaterials is also described. We discuss the applications of these modified BWO materials in the degradation of dyes, decomposition of antibiotics, and disinfection of bacteria. Additionally, we analyze the current unresolved problems and challenges in the application of BWO-based catalysts to provide insights for potential large-scale applications of these catalysts and future studies in this field.