Open porous BiVO{sub 4} nanomaterials: Electronspinning fabrication and enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity

Journal Article · Mon Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2015.10.051· OSTI ID:22581428

Wang, Mengyan; Xi, Xin ^[1]; Gong, Cairong ^[1]; Fan, Guoliang ^[1]

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1. School of Material Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072 (China)

Highlights: • BiVO{sub 4} nanofibers were successfully fabricated by electrospinning method. • PVP was used to adjust the viscosity and increase spinnability of the electrospinning sol. • BiVO{sub 4} nanofibers were used for the degradation of MB. • Compared to the submicron sized BiVO4, BiVO{sub 4} nanofibers show superior photocatalytic activity. - Abstract: Witnessed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies, BiVO{sub 4} nanofibers and porous nanostructures were successfully fabricated by electrospinning method using NH{sub 4}VO{sub 3} and Bi(NO{sub 3}){sub 3} as starting materials. Polyvinylpyrrolidinone (PVP) was used to tune the viscosity and spinnability of the electrospinning sol. The slow decomposition and combustion of PVP matrix prevented rapid crystal growth of BiVO{sub 4} nanostructures leading to considerably small crystallite size (approximately 19.1–28.3 nm) with less surface defects after two hours calcination at varying temperatures. This paid great tributes to the superior visible light photocatalytic activity when compared to the submicron sized BiVO{sub 4} prepared in the absence of PVP.

• OSTI ID: 22581428
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 74; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2015 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
BISMUTH NITRATES
CALCINATION
CRYSTAL GROWTH
CRYSTALS
MATRIX MATERIALS
NANOFIBERS
NANOMATERIALS
NITROGEN OXIDES
PHOTOCATALYSIS
POROUS MATERIALS
POWDERS
PVP
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SOL-GEL PROCESS
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
VANADATES
VISCOSITY
VISIBLE RADIATION
X-RAY DIFFRACTION