Synthesis of a novel CeVO4/graphitic C3N4 composite with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic property

•The CeVO4/g-C3N4 composites were prepared by a facile calcination method.•CeVO4 adheres on the layered g-C3N4 to form the heterojunction.•The content of CeVO4 in raw materials is optimized to obtain the S5 composite.•The S5 composite shows the enhanced photocatalytic activity for methylene blue.•The S5 composite has larger rate constant than CeVO4 and g-C3N4.

The CeVO4/graphitic C3N4 composites were successfully synthesized by using a calcination method. X-ray diffraction patterns show that the diffraction peaks of both graphitic C3N4 (g-C3N4) and CeVO4 coexist in composites. Transmission electron microscopy analysis shows that the CeVO4 rods and particles are well distributed on g-C3N4 layers and become larger after being calcined. The CeVO4/g-C3N4 composites compared with single-phase g-C3N4 and CeVO4 exhibit much enhanced photocatalytic property in degrading methylene blue pollutant under visible light irradiation, which is mainly attributed to the formation of heterojunction between g-C3N4 and CeVO4. The CeVO4/g-C3N4 materials will have many potential applications in the photodegradation of other pollutants.