Abstract
In this work, a novel ErVO4 photocatalyst was synthesized by means of a facile hydrothermal process at 180 °C. The successful formation of the semiconductor was confirmed by several techniques such as X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance, scanning electron microscopy and N2 physisorption measurements. The as-prepared sample showed a nanocrystalline nature (with a crystallite size of 10.1 nm) as well as a relative high surface area (110 m2/g). The photocatalytic performance was examined by the degradation of methylene blue dye under solar-like irradiation conditions, where the reaction rate was estimated at 9.2 × 10−5 s−1 according to the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model. Also, the nanocrystalline ErVO4 was tested as a potential photocatalyst in the production of solar fuels through the H2 evolution reaction (HER) using alcohol–water solutions and no other redox mediator. Several alcohol molecules were examined in order to increase the amount of evolved hydrogen during the photocatalytic process. The obtained photoproduction rates for methanol, ethanol and isopropyl alcohol sacrificial agents were 0.73, 0.49, and 0.28 mmol g−1 h−1, respectively.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A.O. Ibhadon, P. Fitzpatrick, Heterogeneous photocatalysis: recent advances and applications. Catalysts 3, 189–218 (2013)
J. Schneider, M. Matsuoka, M. Takeuchi, J. Zhang, Y. Horiuchi, M. Anpo, D.W. Bahnemann, Understanding TiO2 photocatalysis: mechanisms and materials. Chem. Rev. 114, 9919–9986 (2014)
U.I. Gaya, A.H. Abdullah, Heterogeneous photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants over titanium dioxide: a review of fundamentals, progress and problems. J. Photochem. Photobiol. C 9, 1–12 (2008)
M.J. Hernández Rodríguez, E. Pulido Melián, O.González Díaz, J. Araña, M. Macías, A.González Orive, J.M. Doña Rodríguez, J. Mol. Catal. A 413, 56–66 (2016)
Q. Wang, J. Lian, Y. Bai, J. Hui, J. Zhong, J. Li, N. An, J. Yu, F. Wang, Photocatalytic activity of hydrogen production from water over TiO2 with different crystal structures. Mater. Sci. Semicond. Process. 40, 418–423 (2015)
H. Song, S. You, T. Chen, X. Jia, Controlled preparation of TiO2 hollow microspheres constructed by crosslinked nanochains with high photocatalytic activity. J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 26, 8442–8450 (2015)
E. Luévano-Hipólito, A. Martínez, de la Cruz, Enhancement of photocatalytic properties of TiO2 for NO photo-oxidation by optimized sol-gel synthesis. Res. Chem. Intermed. 42, 7065–7084 (2016)
X. Jia, R. Dai, Y. Sun, H. Song, X. Wu, One-step hydrothermal synthesis of Fe3O4/g-C3N4 nanocomposites with improved photocatalytic activities. J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 27, 3791–3798 (2016)
S. Kunduz, G.S.P. Soylu, Highly active BiVO4 nanoparticles: the enhanced photocatalytic properties under natural sunlight for removal of phenol from wastewater. Sep. Purif. Technol. 141, 221–228 (2015)
S. Obregón, M.A. Ruíz-Gómez, D.B. Hernández-Uresti, Direct evidence of the photocatalytic generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a Bi2W2O9 layered-structure. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 506, 111–119 (2017)
Y. Terada, K. Shimamura, V.V. Kochurikhin, L.V. Barashov, M.A. Ivanov, T. Fukuda, Growth and optical properties of ErVO4 and LuVO4 single crystals. J. Cryst. Growth 167, 369–372 (1996)
G. Leniec, S.M. Kaczmarek, M. Berkowski, M. Głowacki, T. Skibiński, B. Bojanowski, Growth and EPR properties of ErVO4 single crystals. Nukleonika 60, 405–410 (2015)
L.T. Denisova, L.G. Chumilina, Y.F. Kargin, N.V. Belousova, V.M. Denisov, Synthesis and study of high-temperature heat capacity of erbium orthovanadate. Russ. J. Inorg. Chem. 61, 1459–1462 (2016)
A. Abedini, Nanocrystalline ErVO4: synthesis, characterization, optical and photocatalytic properties. J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron 28, 8446–8451 (2017)
J. Amin, B. Dussardier, T. Schweizer, M. Hempstead, Spectroscopic analysis of Er3+ transitions in lithium niobate. J. Lumin. 69, 17–26 (1996)
S.A. Saleem, T. Sasikala, A.M. Babu, L.R. Moorthy, Erbium-doped fluoroborate glasses for near infrared broadband amplifiers. Int. J. Appl. Glass Sci. 2, 215–221 (2011)
Z.A. ALOthman, A review: fundamental aspects of silicate mesoporous materials. Materials 5, 2874–2902 (2012)
D.B. Hernández-Uresti, A. Vázquez, D. Sanchez-Martinez, S. Obregón, Performance of the polymeric g-C3N4 photocatalyst through the degradation of pharmaceutical pollutants under UV–vis irradiation. J. Photochem. Photobiol. A 324, 47–52 (2016)
C.R. López, E.P. Melián, J.A.O. Méndez, D.E. Santiago, J.M.D. Rodríguez, O.G. Díaz, Comparative study of alcohols as sacrificial agents in H2 production by heterogeneous photocatalysis using Pt/TiO2 catalysts. J. Photochem. Photobiol. A 312, 45–54 (2015)
L. Kong, Z. Jiang, H.H.C. Lai, T. Xiao, P.P. Edwards, Does noble metal modification improve the photocatalytic activity of BiOCl? Prog. Nat. Sci. 23, 286–293 (2013)
Y. Gong, H. Yu, X. Quan, Origin of visible light photocatalytic activity of Ag3AsO4 from first-principles calculation. Int. J. Photoenergy 2014, Article ID 639509 (2014)
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by the SEP-PRODEP (UANL-PTC-997) and the UANL through the Project PAICYT 2015.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Obregón, S., Vázquez, A. & Hernández-Uresti, D.B. Nanocrystalline ErVO4 as a novel photocatalyst for degradation of organic compounds and solar fuels production. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 29, 3967–3972 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-017-8337-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-017-8337-9