BiVO4/α-Fe2O3 catalytic degradation of gaseous benzene: Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic properties

A new type of composite photocatalyst, BiVO4/alpha-Fe2O3, was successfully prepared by using hydrothermal-calcinations method and the catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis reflection spectrometer (DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and N-2 adsorption-desorption measurement (BET), respectively. It was displayed that the alpha-Fe2O3 had no effect on the crystal phases of BiVO4 but obviously enhanced the photocatalytic activity of the BiVO4. The composite alpha-FeOOH/BiVO4 with the mass ratio of 5: 5 and the calcinations of 350 degrees C had the highest photocatalytic activity. The degradation rate of benzene was up to 66.87% when initial benzene concentration was 100 mg/m(3) and after 365 nm UV irradiation 210 min O-center dot(2)- and h(+) played a key role in the photo-degradation of benzene, and the enhanced performance of BiVO4/alpha-Fe2O3 composite could be attributed to the synergistic effect between alpha-Fe2O3 and BiVO4. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.