Synthesis of Mn Vanadate Microrods and Their Photocatalytic Properties

Abstract

Mn vanadate microrods have been synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method using Mn acetate and sodium metavanadate as the raw materials, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as the surfactant. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations show that the Mn vanadate microrods are composed of monoclinic MnV2O2 phase. The diameter of the microrods increases from 250 nm to 1 m with the increase of the PVP concentration from 0.1 to 10wt.%. Hydrothermal temperature plays an important role in the formation of the Mn vanadate microrods. The growth process of the Mn vanadate microrods has also been discussed according to a PVP-assisted growth process. Photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RB) is analyzed using the Mn vanadate microrods under visible light irradiation. RB is degraded about 55.42% after visible light irradiation for 4 h using 20 mg Mn vanadate microrods in 10 ml 2.5 mgL-1 RB solution. Keywords: Crystal growth, electron microscopy, Mn vanadate microrods, photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B.