Synthesis of monoclinic sheet-like BiVO4 with preferentially exposed (040) facets as a new yellow-green pigment

Monoclinic BiVO4 (mBiVO(4)) yellow-green pigments were first prepared by a surfactant-free solvothermal route in glycerol/H2O system. The effects of pH value in the synthetic process on color property, structure, exposed facets, morphology and particle size of present mBiVO(4) pigments have been studied by means of UV-Vis DRS, FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDS, TEM, HRTEM and BET surface area. The application of glycerol followed by adjusting appropriate pH values lead to the color change of mBiVO(4) from yellow to yellow-green. What is more, the preferential crystal growth of mBiVO(4) along (040) facets, as well as morphology can also be affected. The mBiVO(4) yellow-green pigments can be obtained in the pH range of 3-5 in this glycerol/H2O system. The corresponding relationship among pH values of the precursor, color property, exposed (040) facets and morphology of different BiVO4 samples was also discussed. It is concluded that the color property of present mBiVO(4) yellow-green pigments can be attributed to the preferentially exposed (040) facets and sheet-like morphology simultaneously. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.