Hydrothermal synthesis and visible-light photocatalytic activity of porous peanut-like BiVO4 and BiVO4/Fe3O4 submicron structures

Porous peanut-like BiVO4 and BiVO4/Fe3O4 submicron structures were synthesized by a template-free hydrothermal process at 160 °C for 24 h. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and UV–vis spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of BiVO4 and BiVO4/Fe3O4 submicron structures were evaluated for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation with and without the assistance of H2O2. According to the experimental results obtained, porous peanut-like BiVO4/Fe3O4 composite photocatalyst shows higher photocatalytic activity in the H2O2-assisted system under visible light irradiation compared to BiVO4. Recycling test on the BiVO4/Fe3O4 composite photocatalyst for the degradation of RhB under visible light irradiation indicates that the composite photocatalyst is stable in the H2O2-assisted system in five cycles. Therefore, this composite photocatalyst will be beneficial for efficient degradation of organic pollutants present in water and air under solar light.