Photocatalytic behavior of BiVO4 immobilized on silica fiber via a combined alcohol-thermal and carbon nanofibers template route

Visible Light-Assisted Photocatalysis Using Spherical-Shaped BiVO4 Photocatalyst

In this research work, we reported the synthesis of a spherical-shaped bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) photocatalyst using a cost-effective, simple, chemical hydrothermal method and studied the effect of deposition temperatures on the structural, morphological, optical properties, etc. The XRD result confirmed the monoclinic scheelite phase of BiVO4. An XPS study confirmed the occurrence of Bi, V, and O elements and also found that Bi and V exist in +3 and +5 oxidation states, respectively. SEM micrographs revealed the spherical-shaped morphology of the BiVO4 photocatalyst. Optical investigation showed that the bandgap of the BiVO4 photocatalyst varied between 2.25 and 2.32 eV. The as-synthesized BiVO4 photocatalyst was used to study the photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet (CV) dye under visible light illumination. The photocatalytic degradation experiment showed that the degradation percentage of crystal violet dye using BiVO4 reached 98.21% after 120 min. Mineralization of crystal violet dye was studied using a chemical oxygen demand analysis.

Preparation and photocatalytic activity characterization of activated carbon fiber-BiVO4 composites

Herein, we describe the hydrothermal immobilization of BiVO₄ on activated carbon fibers (ACFs) and characterize the obtained composite by several instrumental techniques, using Reactive Black KN-B (RB5) as a model pollutant for photocatalytic performance evaluation and establishing the experimental conditions yielding maximal photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic degradation of RB5 is well fitted by a first-order kinetic model, and the good cycling stability and durability of BiVO₄@ACFs highlight the potential applicability of the proposed composite. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of BiVO₄@ACFs compared to those of BiVO₄ and ACFs individually was mechanistically rationalized, and the suggested mechanism was verified by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and RB5 degradation experiments. Thus, this work contributes to the development of BiVO₄@ACF composites as effective photocatalysts for environmental remediation applications.

Herein, we describe the hydrothermal immobilization of BiVO₄ on activated carbon fibers, using Reactive Black KN-B photocatalytic performance evaluation and establishing the experimental conditions yielding maximalphotocatalytic activity.