Novel AuPd bimetallic alloy decorated 2D BiVO4 nanosheets with enhanced photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation

Abstract Novel AuPd bimetallic alloy nanoparticles (NPs) decorated two-dimensional (2D) BiVO4 nanosheet photocatalysts were successfully synthesized via mild wet-chemical process and facile deposition procedure. The composite photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electronic microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS), electron spin resonance (ESR) and surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPV). The 1.0 wt% AuPd/BiVO4 nanosheets showed highest photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light (300 W Xe lamp coupled with a UV-cutoff filter (λ ≥ 400 nm)), and the photocatalytic efficiency was improved for about 21.9 and 6.1 times as compared to that of pure BiVO4 and 1.0 wt% Au/BiVO4, respectively. The novel AuPd/BiVO4 composites may make a way to synthesize 2D semiconductor composites with potential applications for solar energy conversion and environmental purifications.