Unveiling the role of surface heterostructure in Bi0.5Y0.5VO4 solid solution for photocatalytic overall water splitting

Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation Activity Using the V2O5/RGO Composite

Semiconductor-based photocatalyst materials played an important role in the degradation of organic compounds in recent years. Photocatalysis is a simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly process for degrading organic compounds. In this work, vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) and V₂O₅/RGO (reduced graphene oxide) composite were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and UV-Vis spectroscopic analysis, etc. Raman analysis shows the occurrence of RGO characteristic peaks in the composite and different vibrational modes of V₂O₅. The band gap of flake-shaped V₂O₅ is reduced and its light absorption capacity is enhanced by making its composite with RGO. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) was studied using both V₂O₅ and V₂O₅/RGO composite photocatalyst materials. The V₂O₅/RGO composite exhibits a superior photocatalytic performance to V₂O₅. Both catalyst and light play an important role in the degradation process.

Insights into thermally assisted photocatalytic overall water splitting over ZnTi-LDH in a gas–solid reaction system

H2O2 and bridge hydroxyl groups form because of water splitting. This process occurs intensely with the addition of heat, resulting in generation of more intermediates. Meanwhile, the separation of electrons and holes is accelerated by the heat.