Natural sunlight active GdVO4-ZnO nanomaterials for photo-electrocatalytic and self-cleaning applications

In this study 3 wt% GdVO4-ZnO nanomaterial (3 wt% of Gd as GdVO4 in ZnO) was fabricated via template-free hydrothermal process and its photocatalytic activity was tested for the degradation of azo dyes Rhodamine-B (Rh-B) and Trypan Blue (TB) in solar light. GdVO4-ZnO was characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), High resolution Transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Diffused reflectance (DRS) and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The results suggest that GdVO4 loading has great influence on the photocatalytic activity. The fabricated GdVO4-ZnO possesses high reusability without appreciable loss of catalytic activity up to four runs. Higher electrocatalytic activity of GdVO4-ZnO relative to GdVO4 and ZnO for methanol electrooxidation in alkaline medium reveals its promising potential as the anode catalyst in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). Significant hydrophobicity of GdVO4-ZnO indicates its self cleaning property.