Novel CoVO/W_xO_y composites for methylene blue photodegradation and electrocatalytic applications

To address environmental and energy concerns, CoVO/W_xO_y nanocomposites are hydrothermally fabricated and their structural and chemical properties are examined using XRD and FTIR. The surface morphology and optical characteristics are investigated with the help of FESEM and UV–Visible spectroscopy, respectively. CoVO/W_xO_y exhibits increased photocatalytic efficacy towards methylene blue degradation, attributed to its unique properties. Furthermore, the interface of CoVO/W_xO_y follows a Z-scheme mechanism for efficient charge transfer, with ·OH⁻ identified as the most reactive species. The composite catalyst also displays exceptional stability. CoVO/W_xO_y also presents the capability to produce H₂ and O₂ from water splitting at small overpotential values. These investigations are supported by small tafel slope, C_dl value and electrochemical active surface area. These findings suggest that CoVO/W_xO_y hold great promise for use in environmental remediation and sustainable energy generation.