A Simple Preparation Method of Visible-Light-Driven BiVO4 Photocatalysts From Oxide Starting Materials (Bi2O3 and V2O5) and Their Photocatalytic Activities

BiVO 4 powder was easily prepared from Bi2O3 and V2O5 in an aqueous nitric acid solution at room temperature. The obtained crystal structure depended on the molar ratio of Bi2O3 to V2O5, which is the concentration and volume of an aqueous nitric acid solution. BiVO4 with monoclinic scheelite structure formed using starting materials, in which the molar ratio of Bi2O3 to V2O5 was 1:1. When the molar ratio was 4:3, BiVO4 with tetragonal zircon structure was obtained. Although BiVO4 with monoclinic scheelite structure was platelike particles reflecting the crystal structure, the thickness of the particle increased with an increase in the concentration of an aqueous nitric acid solution. The obtained BiVO4 with monoclinic scheelite structure showed good photocatalytic performances for O2 evolution and methylene blue degradation under visible-light irradiation.