Decoration of Ag2WO4 on plate-like MnS for mitigating the charge recombination and tuned bandgap for enhanced white light photocatalysis and antibacterial applications

In this study, the novel MnS/Ag2WO4 photocatalyst was synthesized via chemical co-precipitation method and investigated its physical and structural characteristics using HR-TEM, N2 adsorption and desorption studies, FT-IR, EDAX, PL, UV–vis DRS, ESR, XPS and XRD. The estimation of photocatalytic activity of synthesized photocatalysts was done using methylene blue (organic dye) in aqueous solution. The photocatalyst efficiency was superior for MnS/Ag2WO4 with degradation of 92.3% when compared with bare MnS (67.23%) and Ag2WO4 (58.93%). The kinetic study reveals that higher reaction kinetic rate achieved by the MnS/Ag2WO4 compared with MnS and Ag2WO4. The scavenging test reveals that •OH and O2-• took the important part in the degradation process. The six cycles test reveals that the photocatalyst is highly reusable by showing similar degradation efficiency throughout the six cycles. MnS/Ag2WO4 was also possessed potential broad spectrum anti-microbial activity against B. subtilis and E. coli. Hence, MnS/Ag2WO4 heterostructure can be used as an excellent photocatalyst as well as an effective anti-microbial agent. MnS/Ag2WO4 would be a cost-effective, highly efficient photocatalyst and a good antimicrobial agent.