Fabrication of a WO3-Bi2WO6 Composite Electrode by Electrodeposition and its Application for Microbial Degradation

Abstract

Photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) techniques are an innovative and promising method for eliminating microorganisms. Developing and applying such advanced technologies is essential for protecting public health and the environment. Semiconductor electrode development is a major issue in the advancement of such methods. We have developed a technique for fabricating WO3-Bi2WO6 electrodes using cyclic voltammetry (CV), focusing on the efficiency of the reaction and investigating key aspects for its use in microbial degradation. The optimization of the CV method parameter and calcination temperature was conducted in order to enhance the characteristics of composite WO3-Bi2WO6 electrodes for the aqueous oxidation process. The properties of the fabricated composited WO3-Bi2WO6 electrode were analyzed by several techniques, including UV-visible spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The PEC water oxidation and total microorganism elimination efficiencies were investigated to validate the application of the developed composite WO3-Bi2WO6 electrode properties. The characteristics of the prepared composite WO3-Bi2WO6 electrodes are significantly influenced by the calcination temperature. We were able to satisfactorily verify the electrodes' properties in a reaction involving different calcining temperatures. At a calcining temperature of 450 °C, WO3-Bi2WO6 electrodes exhibited excellent PEC activity in water oxidation and electron transfer rate at the electrode surface. The composited WO3-Bi2WO6 electrode can effectively remove 96% of total microorganisms under the PEC process within 15 minutes. This study provides important background information for future work on composite semiconductor thin film preparations with potential applications in microbe eradication and environmental protection.

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Identifiers

DOI

10.60101/past.2023.250631

Journal

Progress in Applied Science and Technology

Year

2023