1P-546: The synthesis of monoclinic-tetragonal heterostructured BiVO4 by solvothermal method using EGME-water as mixed solvents and their photocatalytic activity under visible light

A monoclinic-tetragonal heterostructure of BiVO4 was successfully synthesized by performing a solvothermal method using EGME-H2O as mixed solvents. Thereafter, we characterized these BiVO4 samples by the following techniques: X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and diffuse reflectance UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS). The results indicate that EGME play an important role in controlling the morphology and formation of BiVO4 crystals. Furthermore, BiVO4 crystals, which had a monoclinic-tetragonal heterostructure, could promote the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Therefore, in the presence of these crystals, the photodecomposition of RhB was enhanced under visible light. In other words, the photocatalytic activity of monoclinic-tetragonal heterostructured BiVO4 crystals was much better than that of single-phase monoclinic scheelite BiVO4.