One step molten salt synthesis of YVO4 nanoparticles and their photocatalytic properties under UV–Visible light

• We obtain well-crystalline YVO4 nanoparticles by one-step MSS at low temperatures.
• The temperature range of forming YVO4 is wide, ranging from 350 to 600 °C.
• The YVO4 nanoparticles exhibit excellent photocatalytic properties.
• The YVO4 nanoparticles are stable under photodegradation environment.

Well-crystalline YVO4 nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by a simple and convenient one-step molten salt synthesis (MSS) method in a wide temperature range of 350–600 °C for only 5 h. The UV–Visible absorption spectra measured by a spectrophotometer suggest that visible light absorption exists in the absorption spectra of all the samples prepared under different temperatures and the smaller the particle size, the stronger the absorption, the smaller the onset of UV absorption and the larger the blue shift. The photodegradation of RB indicates that both particle size and crystallinity have effects on the photocatalytic properties of YVO4 nanoparticles. YVO4 nanoparticles were further demonstrated to have excellent photocatalytic stability.

(a) The absorption spectra changes of RB solutions as a function of irradiation time for the sample synthesized at 400 °C for 5 h; (b) Photocatalytic activity for degradation of RB with no catalyst and using the YVO4 nanoparticles synthesized under different calcining temperatures by MSS method.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide