A comparative study of photocatalytically active nanocrystalline tetragonal zyrcon-type and monoclinic scheelite-type bismuth vanadate. Issue 15 (15th October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dolić, Slobodan D.; Jovanović, Dragana J.; Smits, Krisjanis; Babić, Biljana; Marinović-Cincović, Milena; Porobić, Slavica; Dramićanin, Miroslav D.
• Is Part Of: Ceramics international. Volume 44:Issue 15(2018)
• Page Start: 17953
• Page End: 17961
• Publication Date: 2018-10-15
• Subjects: Bismuth vanadate -- Tetragonal zircon-type BiVO4 -- Monoclinic scheelite-type BiVO4 -- Photocatalysis -- Methyl orange degradation; Ceramics -- Periodicals; Céramique industrielle -- Périodiques; Ceramics; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2018.06.272
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-8842

Abstract

Abstract: Monoclinic scheelite-type BiVO4 is currently considered as one of the most promising non-titania photocatalysts, wheras tetragonal zircon-type BiVO4 is still poorly understood. Herein, a new and simple synthetic approach was applied and nanostructured single-phase zircon-type BiVO4 was successfully prepared by a controllable ethylene-glycol colloidal route. In addition, nanostructured monoclinic scheelite-type BiVO4 powders were also fabricated through annealing of the as-prepared samples. A comparative study of the two BiVO4 polymorphs was conducted and it turned out that the novel synthetic approach had a significant impact on porosity and photocatalytic performance of zircon-structured BiVO4 . All the prepared materials, as-prepared and annealed, were mesoporous, while measured values of specific surface area of some zircon-structured samples (∼34 m 2 /g) were ∼7 times higher than those reported thus far for this phase. Interestingly, for the first time, zircon-type BiVO4, previously considered to be a poor photocatalyst, exhibited a better overall performance in degradation of methyl orange compared to monoclinic scheelite-type BiVO4 . Hence, it could be expected that the here-presented synthesis and observations will both arouse interest in scarcely studied tetragonal zircon-type BiVO4 and facilitate as well as speed up further research of its properties.