Morphology-dependent photocatalytic removal of NO by hierarchical BiVO₄ microboats and microspheres under visible light

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• 作者：Zhihui Ai ; Shuncheng Lee
• 关键词：BiVO4 ; Photocatalysis ; Visible Light ; Hierarchical Superstructures
• 刊名：Applied Surface Science
• 出版年：2013
• 出版时间：1 September, 2013
• 年：2013
• 卷：280
• 期：Complete
• 页码：354-359
• 全文大小：1268 K

文摘

In this study, hierarchical monoclinic BiVO₄ three-dimensional (3D) superstructures with two kinds of morphologies, namely BiVO₄ microboats and BiVO₄ microspheres, have been controllably synthesized by adjusting reaction time in the template-free hydrothermal process using ethylene glycol as solvent. The nucleation, growth, and self-assembly of the BiVO₄ superstructures could be readily controlled with reaction time, which brought different morphologies to the final product. The as-prepared BiVO₄ superstructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nitrogen adsorption-desorption experimentation, and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-vis DRS). The monoclinic 3D BiVO₄ catalysts are composed of two-dimensional (2D) nanoplates which intercross with each other. Nanoplates were firstly formed by aggregation of primary nanocrystallites and then self-assembly converted to microboats and microspheres via the oriented attachment mechanism. The prepared BiVO₄ 3D catalysts can respond to visible light and their optical and photocatalytic properties are relevant to their morphologies. The BiVO₄ microspheres showed superior photocatalytic activity on removal of gaseous NO compared to the BiVO₄ microboats. The morphology-dependent photocatalytic property of the BiVO₄ superstructures is discussed. This work suggests that the synthesized BiVO₄ micropheres are promising photocatalyst for environmental remediation.