Porous FeOx/BiVO4-deltaS0.08: highly efficient photocatalysts for the degradation of methylene blue under visible-light illumination

J Environ Sci (China). 2013 Oct 1;25(10):2138-49. doi: 10.1016/s1001-0742(12)60279-4.

Abstract

Porous S-doped bismuth vanadate with an olive-like morphology and its supported iron oxide (y wt.% FeOx/BiVO4-deltaS0.08, y = 0.06, 0.76, and 1.40) photocatalysts were fabricated using the dodecylamine-assisted alcohol-hydrothermal and incipient wetness impregnation methods, respectively. It is shown that the y wt.% FeOx/BiVO4-deltaS0.08 photocatalysts contained a monoclinic scheetlite BiVO4 phase with a porous olive-like morphology, a surface area of 8.8-9.2 m2/g, and a bandgap energy of 2.38-2.42 eV. There was co-presence of surface Bi5+, Bi3+, V5+, V3+, Fe3+, and Fe2+ species in y wt.% FeOx/BiVO4-deltaS0.08. The 1.40 wt.% FeOx/BiVO4-deltaS0.08 sample performed the best for Methylene Blue degradation under visible-light illumination. The photocatalytic mechanism was also discussed. We believe that the sulfur and FeOx co-doping, higher oxygen adspecies concentration, and lower bandgap energy were responsible for the excellent visible-light-driven catalytic activity of 1.40 wt.% FeOx/BiVO4-deltaS0.08.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bismuth / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Ferric Compounds / chemistry*
  • Light*
  • Methylene Blue / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Photochemical Processes*
  • Vanadates / chemistry*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry*

Substances

  • Ferric Compounds
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • bismuth vanadium tetraoxide
  • ferric oxide
  • Vanadates
  • Methylene Blue
  • Bismuth