Hierarchical nanowires-assembled YVO4 microspheres: Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic properties

• Hierarchical nanowires-assembled YVO4 microspheres have been fabricated via L-Asp assisted hydrothermal route.
• The amount of L-Asp and reaction time play crucial roles in the formation of hierarchical microspheres.
• The hierarchical YVO4 microspheres show excellent photocatalytic property in degradation of RhB under UV light irradiation.

Hierarchical YVO4 microspheres have been prepared via L-aspartic acid (L-Asp) assisted hydrothermal route. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the crystalline phase and morphologies of the products. The SEM results from different reaction stages indicate that YVO4 microspheres are self-assembled by numerous nanowires with diameter of 30–50 nm. It is found that the amount of L-Asp and reaction time play crucial roles in the formation of hierarchical nanowires-assembled YVO4 microspheres. The photocatalytic properties of YVO4 were investigated by the decomposition of Rhodamine B (RhB) under UV light irradiation and exhibit good photocatalytic activities.