Additive-free solvothermal preparation,
characterization, and photocatalytic activity
of 3D butterfly-like BiVO
4
Xinjun Wang
•
Huanli Liu
•
Jinrui Wang
•
Linling Chang
•
Ningning Song
•
Zhenzhen Yan
•
Xiaoli Wan
Received: 18 March 2013 / Accepted: 6 August 2013 / Published online: 18 August 2013
Ó Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013
Abstract Three-dimensional butterfly-like BiVO
4
was successfully synthesized
by a simple solvothermal method at a proper volume ratio (1:4) of EG/H
2
O mixed
solution. It was found that ethylene glycol (EG) had an obvious influence on the
morphologies of the final products. BiVO
4
with different morphologies could be
obtained by simply adjusting the volume ratio of the EG/H
2
O. The crystal struc-
tures, morphologies, and photophysical properties of the products were well char-
acterized. The photocatalytic activities of the samples were evaluated by
decolorization of methylene blue (MB) under simulated sunlight irradiation. The
results demonstrated that BiVO
4
with butterfly-like morphology was better than that
of BiVO
4
-1, BiVO
4
-3 and BiVO
4
-4 for photodegradation of MB. The monoclinic
butterfly-like BiVO
4
-2 possessed bigger specific surface area, lower band gap
energy, and interesting morphology, resulting in the highest photocatalytic activity
under simulated sunlight irradiation.
Keywords BiVO
4
Á Visible-light-driven photocatalysts Á Solvothermal
method Á Methylene blue (MB)
Introduction
Recently, the degradation and decomposition of poisonous and noxious organic
compounds using photocatalytic oxidation technique has become a new research
hotspot [1]. The semiconductor photocatalytic technology is being widely studied for its
potential in a variety of environmental applications, including water purification and
wastewater treatment. Among those investigated photocatalysts, TiO
2
has attracted
X. Wang (&) Á H. Liu Á J. Wang Á L. Chang Á N. Song Á Z. Yan Á X. Wan
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007,
China
e-mail: wxjtg2006@126.com
123
Res Chem Intermed (2015) 41:2465–2477
DOI 10.1007/s11164-013-1360-4
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