Effect of Small Change in Reaction Conditions on the Size of Monoclinic BiVO4 Nanoparticles and their Photocatalytic Abilities

BiVO4 is an effective material and highly used in different applications. Here, we have synthesized BiVO4 using bismuth nitrate pentahydrate and ammonium metavanadate by simple reflux condensation method without addition of any surfactant. To check the effect on the structure and activity of BiVO4 different ratios of bismuth nitrate pentahydrate to ammonium metavanadate e. g. 1 : 1, 1 : 2 and 2 : 1 were used. Obtained BiVO4 nanomaterial was successfully analysed using various analytical techniques such X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The nanoparticles were shown spherical morphology, high porosity and monoclinic scheelite (m) crystalline phase. It was observed that BiVO4 nanoparticles prepared using 1 : 1 ratio have very small size as compared to those prepared using other ratios. Further, the photocatalytic activity of the BiVO4 nanoparticles was assessed by photodegradation of crystal violet dye (CV) under visible light irradiation and found that the particles prepared with 1 : 1 ratio were showing high efficiency of degradation. In addition, prepared nanoparticles have shown good antibacterial properties.

Automated summary

BiVO4 is synthesized without any surfactant using bismuth nitrate pentahydrate and ammonium metavanadate through a simple reflux condensation method. The effect of different ratios of bismuth nitrate pentahydrate to ammonium metavanadate (1:1, 1:2, 2:1) on the structure and activity of BiVO4 is investigated. Various analytical techniques including XRD, BET, FE-SEM, and XPS are used to analyze the obtained BiVO4 nanomaterial, which shows spherical morphology, high porosity, and monoclinic scheelite crystalline phase. The nanoparticles prepared with a 1:1 ratio exhibit smaller size and higher photocatalytic efficiency in the degradation of crystal violet dye (CV) under visible light irradiation. Additionally, the prepared nanoparticles demonstrate good antibacterial properties.