Characterization and photocatalytic properties of BiVO4 synthesized by combustion method

In this study, visible-light-driven BiVO4 photocatalyst was synthesized by chemical combustion method using Bi(NO3)3⋅5H2O and V2O5 as staring materials and citric acid as fuel with 400–550 °C calcination. XRD patterns of as-synthesized BiVO4 samples were indexed to the pure monoclinic scheelite BiVO4 phase. SEM and TEM images show that the morphologies and size distributions of BiVO4 samples were controlled by calcination temperature. FTIR and Raman spectra of BiVO4 show asymmetric and symmetric stretching vibration of V–O bond containing in VO43−. DRS spectra of the BiVO4 samples show excellent visible-light absorption. The photocatalytic properties of as-prepared BiVO4 samples were monitored through the degradation of cationic methylene blue (MB) and anionic methyl orange (MO) under visible light irradiation. Among them, the BiVO4 with 400 °C calcination showed the highest photocatalytic degradation of MB and MO under visible light irradiation. The role of ●O2−, ●OH and h+ radicals in degrading MB over BiVO4 was also investigated and discussed.