Hollow peanut-like m-BiVO4: facile synthesis and solar-light-induced photocatalytic property

Abstract

Monoclinic bismuth vanadate (m-BiVO4) with novel hollow peanut-like morphology was synthesized for the first time using L-lysine as surfactant. The use of L-lysine and the crystallization procedure is indispensable in getting the peanut-like morphology. The photocatalytic activity of the m-BiVO4 samples under solar-light irradiation was evaluated for degradation of crystal violet and methylene blue. Crystallization and calcination temperature are important factors affecting the photocatalytic activity of m-BiVO4, and best performance was observed over the sample that crystallized at 160 °C in the presence of L-lysine and subsequently subjected to calcination at 550 °C. The as-prepared BiVO4 showed good stability in catalyst recycling. Based on the results of XRD, XPS, FESEM, TEM (HRTEM), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and N2 adsorption–desorption characterization, the good photocatalytic activity of the m-BiVO4 sample is attributed to its unique hollow peanut-like morphology and pure monoclinic phase of high crystallinity.