Research progress of vanadium pentoxide photocatalytic materials

Photocatalytic reactions convert solar energy into chemical energy through a clean and green reaction process. Photocatalytic technology based on semiconductor materials provides us with a new idea in energy utilization and environmental governance. It was found that vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) has a narrow band gap, wide response range in the visible region, high oxygen density in the V₂O₅ lattice, high oxidation state of V⁵⁺, small energy requirement, and superior catalytic activity in partial oxidation. Therefore, the utilization rate of sunlight and photocatalytic oxidation can be greatly improved using V₂O₅ materials. However, the narrow band gap of V₂O₅ also makes it easier for the photogenerated electrons and holes to recombine in the excited state, and the stored energy is instantly consumed by carrier recombination. Therefore, how to promote the carrier separation of V₂O₅ and improve the photocatalytic efficiency are the key problems to be solved. Herein, several methods to improve the photocatalytic performance of V₂O₅ are reviewed, including metallic ion doping, non-metallic ion doping, semiconductor recombination, and noble metal deposition. Finally, it is suggested that future research directions should focus on a variety of modification methods simultaneously to promote photocatalytic efficiency and lower the cost, which will enable V₂O₅ to have a broad development prospect in the field of photocatalysis.