Efficient facet regulation of BiVO4 and its photocatalytic motivation

This work investigates a series of BiVO4 with different (010) and (110) facets ratio. The crystal structure, morphology, and photophysical properties of BiVO4 samples were all characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, XPS, PL, UV-vis and BET techniques. Photocatalytic performances of BiVO4 samples with different (010) and (110) facets ratio were evaluated by the O-2 evolution and decolorization of thymolblue under the simulated sunlight irradiation. It showed that a positive relationship exists between the photocatalytic activities (O-2 evolution) and the (010) facet ratio. The plate-like msBiVO(4) exhibited exceptional O-2 evolution ability approximately 4 times greater than bipyramid msBiVO 4 under the simulated sunlight. The photocatalytic performances of plate-like msBiVO(4) mainly originates from the weak-binding effect of (010) facet for photo-generated carrier compared with (110)-dominant msBiVO(4). The built-in of inner electric fields directed from (110) facet to (010) facet, further enhancing the transfers of photo-generated electron-hole pairs by the action of potential energy difference. The entirely exposed (110) facet of msBiVO(4) in this study provides us with an opportunity to explore the key factor for its photocatalysis. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier B.V.