Enhanced photocatalytic activity in electrospun bismuth vanadate nanofibers with phase junction

BiVO4 nanofibers were successfully prepared by electrospinning and precisely controlled heat treatment. The obtained BiVO4 nanofibers showed an enhanced photocatalytic activity in the degradation of rhodamine-B under visible light irradiation. The as-prepared nanofibers were characterized by means of numerous techniques. The enhanced photocatalyst activity is attributed to the formation of a phase junction of tetragonal sheelite (s-t) and monoclinic sheelite (s-m) phases in the electrospun BiVO4 nanofibers. We have also investigated the band structure of BiVO4 using first principle calculation. The main photon transition mechanism of the photocatalyst should be from the O 2p to V 3d state of s-m/t BiVO4 nanofibers.