Hierarchical BiVO4 micro/nanostructures synthesised via a solvothermal route and photodegradation of Rhodamine B

Various bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) hierarchical micro/nanostructures with cocoon-like, flower-like and branch-like morphologies were successfully synthesised by a facile template-free solvothermal approach. The as-synthesised products were characterised by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The experimental results indicate that the volume ratio of ethylene glycol to water has a remarkable influence on the morphologies and microstructures of the obtained products. An oriented aggregation process is presented to account for the formation of the hierarchical BiVO₄ micro/nanostructures in the current synthetic condition. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of the obtained BiVO₄ products under visible-light irradiation was initially evaluated by degradation of Rhodamine B.