Characterization of V2O5/MoO3 composite photocatalysts prepared via electrospinning and their photodegradation activity for dimethyl phthalate

Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5)/molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) composites with different molar ratios of vanadium (V) to molybdenum (Mo) were synthesized via a simple electrospinning technique. The photocatalytic activity of the composites were evaluated by their ability to photodegrade methylene blue and dimethyl phthalate (DMP) under visible-light irradiation. Compared with pure V2O5 and MoO3, the V2O5/MoO3 composites showed enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity because of a V 3d impurity energy level and the formation of heterostructures at the interface between V2O5 and MoO3. The optimal molar ratio of V to Mo in the V2O5/MoO3 composites was found to be around 1/2. Furthermore, high-performance liquid chromatographic monitoring revealed that phthalic acid was the main intermediate in the photocatalytic degradation process of DMP.

Graphical AbstractV2O5/V-doped MoO3, which was characterized systematically, displays enhanced activity for photodegradation of methylene blue and dimethyl phthalate under visible light irradiation. The optimal molar ratio of V to Mo is around 1:2.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide