Shape-controlled synthesis of novel self-assembled BiVO4 hierarchical structures with enhanced visible light photocatalytic performances

• Novel self-assembled BiVO4 samples were synthesized via a facile solvothermal route.
• Flower-like microsphere and red blood cell-like structure were firstly fabricated.
• The citric acid and pH controlling agent had great influences on the morphology.
• The novel self-assembled BiVO4 samples exhibited excellent photocatalytic activities.

Novel self-assembled BiVO4 samples with red blood cell-like shape and flower-like microsphere were successfully synthesized via a facile solvothermal approach by using Na2CO3 or NH3·H2O as the pH controlling agent and citric acid as the chelating agent. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. The results showed that both the citric acid and pH controlling agent had great influences on the morphologies of the samples. Besides, the relationship between the morphology and photocatalytic activity was studied in detail. Benefiting from the unique morphology, the prepared BiVO4 samples exhibited excellent photocatalytic activities for the degradation of MB dye under visible light irradiation.