Synthesis and photocatalytic performances of BiVO4 by ammonia co-precipitation process

This paper reports the preparation and photocatalytic performance of Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) by a facile and inexpensive approach. An amorphous BiVO4 was first prepared by a co-precipitation process from aqueous solutions of Bi(NO3)3 and NH4VO3 using ammonia. Followed by heating treatment at various temperatures, the amorphous phase converted to crystalline BiVO4 with a structure between monoclinic and tetragonal scheelite. The crystallization of BiVO4 occurred at about 523 K, while the nanocrystalline BiVO4 were formed with a heat-treatment of lower than 673 K. However, when the heat-treatment was carried out at 773 K, the accumulation of nanocrystals to bulk particles was observed. The photocatalytic performances of the materials were investigated by O2 evolution under visible-light, and MB decomposition under solar simulator. The results demonstrated that the crystalline structure is still the vital factor for the activities of both reactions. However, the crystallinity of BiVO4 gives a major influence on the activity of O2 evolution, whereas the surface area, plays an important role for photocatalytic MB decomposition.