BiVO4/BiO0.67F1.66 heterojunction enhanced charge carrier separation to boost photocatalytic activity

BiVO4/BiO0.67F1.66 heterojunction composites with cake-like morphology have been successfully synthesized by a two-step hydrothermal route for the first time. As-prepared BiVO4/BiO0.67F1.66 microstructures were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) diffuse absorption spectroscope, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area measurements. The photocatalytic performance of the BiVO4/BiO0.67F1.66 composites was evaluated by studying the visible-light decomposition of rhodamine B (RhB) and phenol molecules in water solution. The BiVO4/BiO0.67F1.66 composites exhibit an obviously improved photocatalytic activity in comparison with the pure BiVO4, as a result of the increased surface area and the unique p–n heterojunction between BiO0.67F1.66 and BiVO4.