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Synthesis of carbon-doped nanosheets m-BiVO4 with three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical structure by one-step hydrothermal method and evaluation of their high visible-light photocatalytic property

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Abstract

To achieve an efficient visible-light absorption and degradation of bismuth vanadate (BiVO4), in this paper, a carbon-doped (C-doped) nanosheets monoclinic BiVO4 (m-BiVO4), with thicknesses within 19.86 ± 8.48 nm, was synthesized using polyvinylpyrrolidone K-30 (PVP) as a template and l-carbonic as the carbon source by one-step hydrothermal synthesis method. This C-doped BiVO4 in three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical structure enjoys high visible-light photocatalytic property. The samples were characterized using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, Raman spectra, energy dispersive spectrometer, transmission electron microscope, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV–Vis diffused reflectance spectroscopy, specific surface area, electron spin resonance, and transient photocurrent response, photoluminescence spectra, and incident-photon-to-current conversion efficiency, respectively. What is more, we studied the C-doping effect on the band-gap energy of BiVO4 based on First-principles. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that all photocatalysts were in the same single monoclinic scheelite structure. According to the other characterization results, the element C was successfully doped in BiVO4, resulting in the 3D hierarchical structure of C-doped BiVO4 (P-L-BiVO4). We speculated that it could be the directional coalescence mechanism by which the l-cysteine promoted the two-dimensional growth and C-doping process of BiVO4, thus leading to the formation of nanosheets which were then promoted into 3D self-assembly by PVP and the shortening of the band gap. Among all samples, P-L-BiVO4 can make the highest removal ratio of rhodamine B under visible-light irradiation. The stability of P-L-BiVO4 was verified by recycle experiments. It showed that P-L-BiVO4 had strong visible-light absorption behavior and high electron–hole separation efficiency and stability, making a significant advantage in actual situation.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support from the Science and Technology Innovation Special Projects of Social Undertakings and Livelihood Support, Chongqing (cstc2016shmszx20009), the Science and Technology Project of Chongqing Education Commission (KJ1500604), the Graduate Scientific Research and Innovation Foundation of Chongqing, China (CYB16008), the Chongqing Research Program of Basic Research and Frontier Technology (cstc2015jcyjA20013), and the 111 Project (B13041) are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Reservoir Region’s Eco-Environment Ministry of Education and National Centre for International Research of Low-carbon and Green Buildings, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400067, China

    Deqiang Zhao, Wenjuan Zong, Shimin Xiong, Mao Du, Tianhui Wu, Fangying Ji & Xuan Xu

  2. National Centre for International Research of Low-Carbon and Green Buildings, Chongqing University, No. 174 Shazhengjie, Shapingba, Chongqing, 400045, China

    Deqiang Zhao, Wenjuan Zong, Shimin Xiong, Mao Du, Tianhui Wu, Fangying Ji & Xuan Xu

  3. School of Environmental and Biological Engineering Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, 400067, China

    Zihong Fan

  4. Key Laboratory of Polar Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, Department of Electronic Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China

    Yue-Wen Fang

  5. Nanostructures Research Laboratory, Japan Fine Ceramics Center, Nagoya, 456-8587, Japan

    Yue-Wen Fang

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  1. Deqiang Zhao
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  2. Wenjuan Zong
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  3. Zihong Fan
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  4. Yue-Wen Fang
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  5. Shimin Xiong
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  6. Mao Du
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  7. Tianhui Wu
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  8. Fangying Ji
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  9. Xuan Xu
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Correspondence to Fangying Ji or Xuan Xu.

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Funding

This study was funded by the Science and Technology Innovation Special Projects of Social Undertakings and Livelihood Support, Chongqing (cstc2016shmszx20009), the Science and Technology Project of Chongqing Education Commission (KJ1500604), the Graduate Scientific Research and Innovation Foundation of Chongqing, China (CYB16008), the Chongqing Research Program of Basic Research and Frontier Technology (cstc2015jcyjA20013), and the 111 Project (B13041).

Conflict of interest

X.X. has received research grants from the Science and Technology Innovation Special Projects of Social Undertakings and Livelihood Support, Chongqing (cstc2016shmszx20009), and the 111 Project (B13041). D.Z. has received research grants from the Graduate Scientific Research and Innovation Foundation of Chongqing, China (CYB16008). Z.F. has received research grants from the Science and Technology Project of Chongqing Education Commission (KJ1500604) and the Chongqing Research Program of Basic Research and Frontier Technology (cstc2015jcyjA20013). W.Z., Y.-W.F., S.X., M.D., T.W., and F.J. declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Zhao, D., Zong, W., Fan, Z. et al. Synthesis of carbon-doped nanosheets m-BiVO4 with three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical structure by one-step hydrothermal method and evaluation of their high visible-light photocatalytic property. J Nanopart Res 19, 124 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-017-3818-6

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