Controlled synthesis of T-shaped BiVO4 and enhanced visible light responsive photocatalytic activity

• T-shaped BiVO4 was synthesized using SDBS as a structure-directing surfactant.
• SDBS greatly changed the microstructure of BiVO4.
• The T-shaped BiVO4 had a better visible-light photocatalytic activity.
• Degradation kinetics of MB by BiVO4 fitted the pseudo-first-order kinetics.

A novel T-shaped BiVO4 microcrystal photocatalyst was successfully synthesized by the hydrothermal method with the aid of a structure-directing surfactant SDBS in the present study. Having received well characterization with the aid of various techniques and the results showed that the SDBS greatly changed the microstructure of BiVO4, which had a unique T shape and belonged to the monoclinic family. The fast exchange dynamics between the surfactants bound to the Bi3+ seed surface and the free VO3− in the solution significantly increase the rate of heterogeneous nucleation. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of the prepared T-shaped BiVO4 was evaluated by the degradation of Methylene Blue solution under visible light irradiation, 17% and 47% higher decolorization rates than the commercial P25 and BiVO4 synthesized without SDBS, respectively. Meanwhile, it has been found that the degradation kinetics of MB fitted the pseudo-first-order kinetics and the T-shaped BiVO4 also displayed high photocatalytic performance for metronidazole degradation.

H2O2 molecules function as electron trapping reagent to react with e− to enhance the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of MB in the BiVO4/H2O2 system under visible light irradiation.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide