An interesting Eu,F-codoped BiVO4 microsphere with enhanced photocatalytic performance

Abstract Novel Eu, F-codoped BiVO 4 microspheres with diameter of 1–3  μ m were successfully fabricated via a hydrothermal route. The effects of Eu and F doping on the morphology and crystal structure were intensively investigated by some physicochemical characterizations like N 2 physical adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–Vis diffuse reflectance (UV–vis DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and photoelectrochemical measurements. The characterization results revealed that the doping of Eu 3+ induced the formation of BiVO 4 microspheres and the phase transformation in BiVO 4 crystal, from monoclinic to tetragonal phase. The Eu 3+ doping slightly shifted the absorption edge of BiVO 4 to the direction of UV region. F − doping clearly increased the crystallinity of BiVO 4 . Moreover, Eu and F co-doping gave rise to the synergetic effects, e.g. the increase in surface area and high separation efficiency of the photo-generated electrons (e − ) and holes (h + ). The photocatalytic performance test in degradation of rhodamine B showed that these Eu, F-codoped BiVO 4 microspheres displayed much higher photocatalytic performance than that of bare BiVO 4 , single Eu or F doped BiVO 4 samples.