m-BiVO4 hollow spheres coated on carbon fiber with superior reusability as photocatalyst

Recyclable photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution was investigated using monoclinic bismuth vanadate (m-BiVO4) coated on activated carbon fibers. m-BiVO4 hollow microspheres were in situ formed @ carbon fibers by hydrothermal process and a novel BiVO4 @ carbon fiber composite was obtained. The obtained composite has a surface area in the range from 3.1 to 4.6 m(2)/g. The photocatalytic activity of the obtained material was checked by the decomposition of MB. It was found that the immobilization of m-BiVO4 hollow microspheres photocatalyst on the surface of carbon fibers did not reduce the visible light absorption capability with comparison to that of pure m-BiVO4. Moreover, the composite showed an enhanced reusability. This higher activity and reusability can be attributed due to the higher amount immobilization of photocatalyst @ carbon fiber.