Mechanochemical preparation of low cost kaolinite-based BiVO4 hybrid pigments with high near infrared reflectance

Abstract For accelerate construction of the energy and resource-saving and environmental-friendly society, cleaner preparation of low-cost and high-performance colorful near-infrared reflective inorganic pigments with the decorative function is indispensable to reduce the hazards of urban heat island and simultaneously beautify the appearance of the buildings. Due to the non-toxicity, good chemical stability and narrow band gap, BiVO 4 has been becoming a promising environment-friendly yellow inorganic pigments among the conventional heavy metals-containing inorganic pigments. In this study, the low-cost and brilliant kaolinite-based BiVO 4 hybrid pigments were fabricated by cleaner mechanochemical method based on cheap and abundant kaolinite using crystal water of the hydrated metal salts as trace solvent, which could effectively promote the interaction of the involved components at the molecular level during grinding and then decreased the mass transfer resistance for the formation of monoclinic scheelite BiVO 4 in the following calcination. The obtained hybrid pigments at the optimal preparation conditions exhibited brilliant color properties (D65-10°, L * = 83.45 ± 0.08, a * = 4.17 ± 0.08, b * = 88.59 ± 0.17), high near-infrared reflectance of 86.22%, infrared solar reflectance of 88.14% and high emissivity of 0.9369 in the waveband of 8–13 μ m. Furthermore, the hybrid pigments could be used for coloring epoxy resin with high emissivity of 0.8782 in 8–13 μ m. Therefore, the brilliant and low-cost kaolinite-based bismuth yellow hybrid pigments have the enormous potential to be served as colorful functional nanofillers for cooling roofing materials.