Sol-Gel Preparation and Photocatalytic Activities of BiVO4 Thin Film

BiVO4 films were synthesized by sol-gel method with different molar ratios of Bi to V, using Bi(NO3)(3)center dot 5H(2)O, NH4VO3 and citric acid as raw materials. The effects of the different molar ratios of Bi to V on the structure, morphology and luminescent property were studied by XRD, FE-SEM and PL. The photocatalytic activities of the samples were investigated by the degradation of RhB under visible light irradiation. The results show that the pure monoclinic phase BiVO4 films can be synthesized with Bi :V of 1:1 and 1:1.2. As the molar ratio of Bi to V is 1:1.5, in addition to BiVO4, there is also V4O9 existing in the as-prepared samples. Bi2O2.75/BiVO4 compound photocatalysts can be obtained when Bi:V=1:0.8. The photocatalytic effects of the as-prepared thin films with Bi:V= 1:1.8 and 1:1.5 are better than those of the BiVO4 thin films with Bi:V =1:1 and 1:1.2. Among them, the photocatalytic activities of the thin film with Bi:V = 1:1.5 is the optimal.