Characterization of visible-light-driven BiVO4 photocatalysts synthesized via a surfactant-assisted hydrothermal method

Phase-pure BiVO4 photocatalysts were synthesized via a surfactant-assisted hydrothermal method and were characterized with XRD, DRS, Raman, FTIR and SEM. The results indicated that the HTAB-assisted BiVO4 had a narrow band gap than the other three products (no-surfactant-assisted, PVA-assisted and PVP-assisted BiVO4). The addition of surfactant would greatly affect the crystal structure of BiVO4, which can lead to different photocatalytic activities between them. Their photocatalytic activities were evaluated by the decolorization of methyl orange in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation; and the HTAB-assisted BiVO4 product, with well-assembled flower-like morphology, had a much higher photocatalytic activity (the photodegradation rate was about 85% in 90 min) than the other three products.