Controllable Synthesis of Highly Active BiVO4 by Urea Co-precipitation and the Mechanism for Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance

doi:10.7517/j.issn.1674-0475.2015.04.336

Abstract

Abstract:

Monoclinic Scheelite BiVO₄ photocatalysts with high crystallinity were synthesized by a homogeneous precipitation method under the assistance of heat, ultrasonic and hydrothermal treatments. The crystal structure, morphology and photophysical property were characterized by XRD, SEM, and DRS techniques, respectively. It demonstrated that BiVO₄ with a high crystallinity can be synthesized by three different processes. However, a great difference can be observed on the micrographic morphology. The photocatalytic performance of these catalysts were evaluated by the decolorization of red dye FN-3G in aqueous solution under visible-light irradiation (λ> 420 nm). All the three samples showed high activity for the dye decomposition. The improved photocatalytic activities of the samples synthesized by the assistance of ultrasonic and hydrothermal treatment are mainly ascribed to the high crystallinity and large surface area. The improvement in the crystallinity can reduce the probability of electron-hole recombination, so as to enhance the photo-to-current conversion efficiency, while the increases in the surface area mainly improve the adsorption capacity of dye molecules.

Key words: BiVO₄, visible-light photocatalysis, supersonic method, homogeneous co-precipitation

ZHANG Jinqiu, ZHANG Yan, ZHU Yukun, PENG Yanhua, ZHOU Xiaochen, YU Jianqiang. Controllable Synthesis of Highly Active BiVO₄ by Urea Co-precipitation and the Mechanism for Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance[J]. Imaging Science and Photochemistry, 2015, 33(4): 336-344.

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Controllable Synthesis of Highly Active BiVO₄ by Urea Co-precipitation and the Mechanism for Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance

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