Synthesis of butterfly-like BiVO4/RGO nanocomposites and their photocatalytic activities

A simple and high efficient method was proposed for the synthesis of uniform three dimensional(3D) BiVO_4/reduced graphene oxide(RGO) nanocomposite photocatalyst by adopting the microwave assistant and using Bi(NO_3)_3·5H_2O, graphene oxide(GO) and NH_4VO_3 as precursor. The as-obtained composites were well characterized with the aid of various techniques to study the morphology, structure, composition, optimal and electrical property. In the as-obtained composites, the GO sheets were fully reduced into RGO, and monoclinic structure BiVO_4 crystallized completely into butterfly-like BiVO_4 lamellas and well bonded with the RGO lamellas. The length and the width of the butterfly-like BiVO_4 particle were about 1.5 μm, and the thickness of the flake was about 20 nm. Photocatalytic performances of BiVO_4/RGO composite and pure BiVO_4 particle have been evaluated by investigating the reduction of Cr(Ⅵ) ion-contained wastewater under simulated solar light irradiation, where the BiVO_4/RGO composite displayed enhanced photocatalytic activity. It is found that the pseudo-first-order rate constants(k) for the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) by BiVO_4/RGO composite was about 4 times as high as that of the pure BiVO_4. The present work suggested that the combination of BiVO_4 and RGO displayed a remarkable synergistic effect, which led to enhanced photo-catalytic activity on Cr(Ⅵ) reduction.

A simple and high efficient method was proposed for the synthesis of uniform three dimensional （3D） BiVO4/reduced graphene oxide （RGO） nanocomposite photocatalyst by adopting the microwave assistant and using Bi （NO3）3·5H2O, graphene oxide （GO） and NH4VO3 as precursor. The as-obtained composites were well characterized with the aid of various techniques to study the morphology, structure, composition, optimal and electrical property. In the as-obtained composites, the GO sheets were fully reduced into RGO, and monoclinic structure BiVO4 crystallized completely into butterfly-like BiVO4 lamellas and well bonded with the RGO lamellas. The length and the width of the butterfly-like BiVO4 particle were about 1.5 μm, and the thickness of the flake was about 20 nm. Photocatalytic performances of BiVO4/RGO composite and pure BiVO4 particle have been evaluated by investigating the reduction of Cr（VI） ion-contained wastewater under simulated solar light irradiation, where the BiVO4/RGO composite displayed enhanced photocatalytic activity. It is found that the pseudo-first-order rate constants （k） for the photocatalytic reduction of Cr （VI） by BiVO4/RGO composite was about 4 times as high as that of the pure BiVO4. The present work suggested that the combination of BiVO4 and RGO displayed a remarkable synergistic effect, which led to enhanced photo-catalytic activity on Cr（VI） reduction.