Synthesis and characterization of BiVO₄ nanoparticles for environmental applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) is a promising semiconductor material.
• Photocatalysis and antibacterial applications require efficient nanomaterials.
• Controlling nanoparticle properties through synthesis is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize BiVO4 nanoparticles using chemical precipitation.
• To investigate the effect of calcination temperature on BiVO4 properties.
• To evaluate the photocatalytic and antibacterial efficacy of BiVO4 nanoparticles.

Main Methods:

• Chemical precipitation for BiVO4 nanoparticle synthesis.
• Calcination at varying temperatures.
• Structural characterization (XRD).
• Photocatalytic activity testing using methylene blue dye degradation.
• Antibacterial activity assessment via well diffusion assay.

Main Results:

• Monoclinic BiVO4 nanoparticles were successfully synthesized.
• Increasing calcination temperature led to increased grain size.
• BiVO4 nanoparticles calcined at 400 °C showed superior photocatalytic activity (k = 0.02169 min⁻¹) under solar irradiation.
• The 400 °C calcined BiVO4 nanoparticles demonstrated stability over three cycles.
• Effective inhibition of Gram-negative (P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii) and Gram-positive (S. aureus) bacteria was observed.

Conclusions:

• Calcination temperature significantly influences the properties of BiVO4 nanoparticles.
• BiVO4 nanoparticles synthesized and calcined at 400 °C are effective for photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes.
• These nanoparticles exhibit potent antibacterial activity against key pathogenic strains.
• Optimized BiVO4 nanoparticles hold potential for environmental remediation and antimicrobial applications.