Abstract
Micro-sized spherical BiVO4 photocatalysts composed of nanoparticles were synthesized by the sol–gel combustion method. The effects of citric acid and urea on the structural and morphological characteristics of samples were studied by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, N2 adsorption and desorption and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B under visible light. The results showed the sphere-shaped BiVO4 sample to have excellent photocatalytic performance compared with the bulk sample prepared by solid-state reaction. This enhancement could be attributed to the special spherical morphology, which enhanced the absorption ability, increased the separation efficiency of photon-generated carriers and improved surface reaction sites for consumption of photon-generated carriers. Uniform micro-sized spherical BiVO4 samples composed of nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by the sol–gel combustion method. The relationships between the morphologies and citric acid with urea contents were studied by using the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) technology.
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