A novel photoelectric performance of magnetic CoFe2O4–Bi0.9Nd0.1VO4 photocatalyst synthesized via one-step microwave-hydrothermal method

Abstract

CoFe2O4–Bi0.9Nd0.1VO4 composite photocatalyst has been successfully synthesized by means of a simple one-step microwave-hydrothermal method. The structural analysis demonstrates that the CoFe2O4–Bi0.9Nd0.1VO4 is mainly composed of monoclinic and tetragonal BiVO4 and only small amounts of CoFe2O4. The spherical-like particles of BiVO4 with CoFe2O4 on the surface are probably detrimental to the photocatalytic activity of CoFe2O4–Bi0.9Nd0.1VO4. The impressive photocurrent results indicate that the CoFe2O4–Bi0.9Nd0.1VO4 possesses a more negative valence band potential in comparison with Bi0.9Nd0.1VO4, which might give rise to the reduction of photocatalytic activity of CoFe2O4–Bi0.9Nd0.1VO4. The CoFe2O4 exhibits superparamagnetic behavior, while the CoFe2O4–Bi0.9Nd0.1VO4 is ferromagnetic, which can be easily collected and recycled by applying an external magnetic field. The recycling test on CoFe2O4–Bi0.9Nd0.1VO4 composite photocatalyst for the RhB degradation under simulated sunlight irradiation shows that the CoFe2O4–Bi0.9Nd0.1VO4 could remain stable after four cycles.