Highly efficient BiVO₄single-crystal nanosheets with dual modification: phosphorus doping and selective Ag...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Photocatalysis
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) is a promising visible-light photocatalyst with abundant resources, stability, and low cost.
• Limitations in electron-hole pair separation hinder the application of single-component BiVO4.
• Highly efficient photocatalysis often requires multi-component modification strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the photocatalytic performance of BiVO4 through dual modification.
• To investigate the synergistic effects of phosphorus doping and silver deposition on BiVO4.
• To develop a novel strategy for designing efficient photocatalytic materials.

Main Methods:

• Phosphorus (P) was doped into V sites of BiVO4 using a hydrothermal method.
• Silver (Ag) nanoparticles were selectively photo-deposited onto the (010) facet of BiVO4 nanosheets.
• The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) was used to evaluate performance.

Main Results:

• The dually modified BiVO4 exhibited a significantly enhanced degradation rate for methylene blue (MB).
• The photocatalytic rate constant (k) was 2.285 min⁻¹g⁻¹, which is 2.78 times higher than pristine BiVO4.
• P-doping introduced oxygen vacancies, increasing charge carriers, while Ag facilitated electron transfer and improved charge separation.

Conclusions:

• Dual modification of BiVO4 with P-doping and Ag deposition effectively enhances photocatalytic activity.
• The synergistic effects of P-doping and Ag co-catalysis are crucial for improved electron-hole separation and performance.
• This approach provides insights for the rational design and synthesis of advanced photocatalytic materials.