Enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity of BiVO4 microstructures via annealing process. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lu, Yanjie; Shang, Huishan; Guan, Huijuan; Zhao, Yafei; Zhang, Hongsong; Zhang, Bing
• Is Part Of: Superlattices and microstructures. Volume 88(2015)
• Page Start: 591
• Page End: 599
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: BiVO4 -- Hydrothermal method -- Annealing -- Photodegradation -- Methylene blue; Superlattices as materials -- Periodicals; Microstructure -- Periodicals; Semiconductors -- Periodicals; Superréseaux -- Périodiques; Microstructure (Physique) -- Périodiques; Semiconducteurs -- Périodiques; 621.38152
• DOI: 10.1016/j.spmi.2015.10.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0749-6036

Abstract

Abstract: The peanut-shaped monoclinic scheelite BiVO4 crystals were synthesized via a facile one step hydrothermal method without using any templates, followed by annealing at different temperatures. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), showing that the annealing procedure could not only change the surface morphology and crystallinity of BiVO4 but also increase the specific surface area without damaging the peanut shape. The band gap values of the samples annealed at different temperatures could be reduced to 2.44–2.46 eV as compare with that of 2.47 eV of the original sample. The photocatalytic activities of BiVO4 crystals were evaluated by degradation of methylene blue in aqueous solution under artificial solar-light. Results demonstrated that the sample annealed at 450 °C exhibited the highest activity, and the photocatalytic conversion of methylene blue could reach above 94% after 150 min of irradiation. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Peanut-like m-BiVO4 was prepared by hydrothermal method without using any template. The effect of annealing procedure on photocatalytic activity was examined. The annealed BiVO4 showed advanced activity for dye sunlight-driven degradation. The m-BiVO4 annealed at 450 °C had the most excellent catalytic activity.