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Synthesis of rare earth-doped yttrium vanadate polyscale crystals and their enhanced photocatalytic degradation of aqueous dye solution

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Abstract

In this study, a series of RE3+:YVO4 catalysts were successful synthesized by environmentally friendly mild hydrothermal and supercritical hydrothermal techniques. The rare earth-doped YVO4 photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy. The X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the as-prepared YVO4 crystals are of tetragonal phase. Further, the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy result shows the absence of OH– molecules. The photoluminescence spectroscopy curves and UV–Vis spectra suggest that the band gap energy of YVO4 is shifted to lower energy level due to doping of Nd3+ and Er3+ ions. The catalytic activities of the as-prepared RE3+:YVO4 samples were tested for the photodegradation of amaranth aqueous dye solution under sunlight irradiation. Remarkably, the rare earth-doped YVO4 nanocrystal sample showed outstanding photocatalytic degradation activities than undoped YVO4 nanocrystal sample with good reusability. Under full spectrum irradiation, the as-prepared Nd3+-doped YVO4 nanocrystals exhibited about 83% degradation efficiency. The apparent rate constant k for as-prepared Nd3+-doped YVO4 nanocrystals with 50 mg of photocatalyst exhibits highest k value (0.32 min−1), which is 2.9% higher than pure YVO4 nanocrystals (0.11 min−1).

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge financial support for this work provided by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, G. Madegowda Institute of Technology, Mandya, India

    C. K. Chandrashekar

  2. School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China

    P. Madhusudan

  3. Department of Water and Health, JSS University, Mysuru, 570006, Karnataka, India

    H. P. Shivaraju

  4. Department of Studies in Earth Science, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysuru, 570 006, India

    C. P. Sajan, B. Basavalingu & K. Byrappa

  5. Department of Studies in Chemistry, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysuru, 570 006, India

    S. Ananda

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  1. C. K. Chandrashekar
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  4. C. P. Sajan
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  5. B. Basavalingu
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Correspondence to P. Madhusudan.

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Editorial responsibility: Binbin Huang.

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Chandrashekar, C.K., Madhusudan, P., Shivaraju, H.P. et al. Synthesis of rare earth-doped yttrium vanadate polyscale crystals and their enhanced photocatalytic degradation of aqueous dye solution. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 15, 427–440 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1401-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1401-4

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