Urea-modified ZnWO4 with enhanced photocatalytic activity.

The urea-modified ZnWO₄ samples were synthesized by hydrothermal method. Urea was used as a nitrogen source. These materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS). Photocatalytic properties of urea-modified ZnWO₄ was studied and compared with its parent ZnWO₄. Urea-modified ZnWO₄ (10 mol%) has shown higher photocatalytic activity in the degradation of methylene blue under the visible light irradiation. Participation of holes, hydroxyl radicals, and super oxide radicals in the photocatalytic dye degradation was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]