Intentionally Incorporated Fe Cations in Silverton Polyoxometalates Forming Fenton-like Photocatalysts for Enhanced Degradation

Abstract

Polyoxometalates (POMs) have shown great potential for applications in photocatalysis due to their unique structural features, tunable band gap, and environmental benignity. Herein, a Fe ion-incorporated Co4W6O21(OH)2·4H2O sphere network POM was successfully synthesized via a simple hydrothermal process. A DFT calculation proved that the Fe ion partially replaced cobalt atoms, forming FexCo4−xWOH, which played a crucial role in modulating the electron state and the band structure. The as-prepared FexCo4−xWOH exhibited excellent Fenton-like photocatalytic activity; the degradation rate of RhB improved 3.69 times compared with the sample without doping. The favorable performance of FexCo4−xWOH is a result of the synergistic effects of the Fenton reaction and the activation of H2O2 under visible irradiation, which can generate a mass of •O2− and •OH species in the unique sphere network structure. This study supplied a new idea for designing highly-active Fenton-like POM photocatalysts for environmental remediation.