A new bismuth vanadate photocatalyst of Bi23V4O44.5 nanoplates with layered δ-Bi2O3 based fluorite-type superstructures

• Bi23V4O44.5 nanoplates were prepared by the Pechini method.
• It has a narrow band-gap of 2.384 eV from hybridization of Bi-6s and O-2p.
• Bi23V4O44.5 has photocatalysis report visible-light-irradiation.
• Photocatalysis is due to layered δ-Bi2O3-like structure and codoped V4+/V5+ ions.

The work reports the large-scale synthesis and photocatalytic activity of Bi23V4O44.5 nanoplates. The structural refinement was conducted in the layered δ-Bi2O3 based superstructuLre. The detailed surface properties were characterized. Bi23V4O44.5 shows efficient absorption in visible region with a band-gap of 2.384 eV from the hybridization of Bi-6s and O-2p orbitals. Particularly, Bi23V4O44.5 shows an efficient photodegradation for methylene blue (MB). The photocatalysis benefits from the layered B–O structure characteristic and the codoped defects of V4+/V5+ ions in the lattices. Bi23V4O44.5 nanoplates could be a potential photocatalyst.