Issue 8, 2015

Fabrication of YxBi1−xVO4 solid solutions for efficient C2H4 photodegradation

Abstract

Photocatalytic oxidation of ethylene continues to be a challenge at the frontier of chemistry. Previous investigations have shown that BiVO4 possesses strong photo-oxidative properties which can efficiently oxidize water and decompose organics in aqueous solutions; however, its conduction band minimum is too low to utilize the photo-generated electrons. Herein we report for the first time its effects on gaseous C2H4 photo-oxidation by fabricating YxBi1−xVO4 (x = 0.00–1.00) semiconductors with a polymeric method. Phase analysis identified that there are both a region of monoclinic and tetragonal phase coexistence (0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.45) and a solid solution region (0.5 ≤ x ≤ 1.0). UV-visible diffusive reflectance spectra and Mott–Schottky analysis revealed that the incorporation of Y3+ widened the band gap by shifting upward the conduction band minimum as well as shifting downward the valance band maximum. Remarkable C2H4 photodegradation was obtained upon the Y0.85Bi0.15VO4 photocatalyst and its superior performance is ascribed to the synergistic effect of C2H4 adsorption, active oxygen species ˙O2 utilization, and relatively large surface area. The present study will be valuable for further investigation on both BiVO4 and hydrocarbons (HC) degradation.

Graphical abstract: Fabrication of YxBi1−xVO4 solid solutions for efficient C2H4 photodegradation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
31 Oct 2014
Accepted
08 Dec 2014
First published
08 Dec 2014

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015,3, 4163-4169

Fabrication of YxBi1−xVO4 solid solutions for efficient C2H4 photodegradation

P. Long, Y. Zhang, X. Chen and Z. Yi, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015, 3, 4163 DOI: 10.1039/C4TA05872K

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements