Fast Surface Charge Transfer with Reduced Band Gap Energy of FeVO4/Graphene Nanocomposite and Study of Its Electrochemical Property and Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

Photocatalysis comprises an immense interest for resolving current energy and environmental problems by converting sun light into chemical energy. Here, we developed FeVO4/graphene nanocomposites by using a facile hydrothermal method and characterized the product through powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, UV–visible spectroscopic analysis, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, photoluminescence spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The visible light-assisted photocatalytic activeness was determined by decomposition of methylene blue (MB) dye solution. The outcomes show that the FeVO4/graphene nanocomposites exhibit enhanced photocatalytic efficiency for the oxidization of MB on a maximum degradation removal rate of decolonization 92% while compared with pure FeVO4 nanocomposite (63%). This is attributed to enhanced light absorption capacity, long lifetime of photo-generated charge carriers in FeVO4/graphene nanocomposite and the greater surface area which allow greater extent of adsorption of dye molecules at the catalyst surface. The possible photocatalytic degradation mechanism of FeVO4 and FeVO4/graphene was proposed and critically discussed.