The synthesize of lanthanide doped BiVO4 and its enhanced photocatalytic activity

Lanthanide Nd doped BiVO4 composite with 2D long rod shaped structures was prepared by the facile synthesis method. The corresponding relationship was obtained among loaded content to phase, morphology, and optical absorption property of Nd-BiVO4 composite by UV-vis DRS, XRD, SEM, and EDS. The results shown that Nd loaded did not change the crystallinity of BiVO4 significantly, but enhanced the optical absorption ability for visible light and improved the morphologies and microstructure. The photocatalytic activities of the Nd-BiVO4 composite were evaluated for the photodegradation of phenol and desulfurization of thiophene under visible light irradiation. The results showed that Nd loaded greatly improved the photocatalytic activity of BiVO4, and the content of Nd had an obvious impact on the catalytic activity of BiVO4. The 0.8 wt.% Nd-BiVO4 composite exhibited the best photocatalytic activity in both the photodegradation of phenol and desulfurization of thiophene. Afterwards, the mechanism of enhanced photocatalytic activity of Nd-BiVO4 composite was also investigated. The determination of function of the active free radicals confirmed that hydroxyl free radical OH was main active radicals during photocatalytic oxidation process.