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Preparation and effects of calcining temperature and pH on the photocatalytic activity of BiVO4 microcrystal for degrading methylene blue

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Abstract

BiVO4 photocatalysts were synthesized by a polyacrylamide gel method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results confirmed the formation of monoclinic BiVO4. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterizations showed that BiVO4 had the morphology of sphere-like particles and smooth surface. Ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS) data demonstrated that the band gaps of BiVO4 particles varied in the range of 2.34 to 2.49 eV. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra revealed that BiVO4 obtained at a lower calcining temperature had the weaker emission intensity and the lower recombination rate of photogenerated carriers. The influences of different calcination temperatures and pH values on the photocatalytic activities were evaluated by degrading methylene blue (MB) solution under visible light irradiation. BiVO4 prepared by calcining xerogel at 500 ℃ possessed the highest photocatalytic activity as high as 96.542% after 180 min. The photocatalytic efficiency of BiVO4 particles under alkaline conditions was higher than that under acidic conditions. Trapping experiments verified that singlet oxygen (1O2), superoxide radical (·O2−), and hydroxyl radical (·OH) were the principal active species in the photocatalytic reactions. The as-obtained BiVO4 photocatalysts exhibit great potential in pollutant removal.

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Funding

This work was supported by Chongqing Three Gorges University, the Talent Introduction Project (09826501), the Science and Technology Research Program of Chongqing Education Commission of China (KJQN202001225), Project (YB2020C0402) supported by Chongqing Key Laboratory of Geological Environment Monitoring and Disaster Early-Warning in Three Gorges Reservoir Area.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Wanzhou, Chongqing, 404000, China

    Yang Cai, Xiaoyu Yang, Yuxuan Li, Runze Ling & Guangzhuang Sun

  2. Chongqing Key Laboratory of Geological Environment Monitoring and Disaster Early-Warning in Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Wanzhou, Chongqing, 404000, China

    Guangzhuang Sun

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  1. Yang Cai
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  2. Xiaoyu Yang
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  3. Yuxuan Li
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Yang Cai and Guangzhuang Sun designed this study. Yang Cai, Xiaoyu Yang, Yuxuan Li and Runze Ling performed material preparation and data collection. Yang Cai, Xiaoyu Yang and Guangzhuang Sun analyzed the data. Yang Cai and Guangzhuang Sun wrote the first draft of the manuscript and all authors revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Guangzhuang Sun.

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Cai, Y., Yang, X., Li, Y. et al. Preparation and effects of calcining temperature and pH on the photocatalytic activity of BiVO4 microcrystal for degrading methylene blue. Ionics 30, 2333–2344 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-024-05407-6

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