Design, fabrication and characterization of photocatalyst Ni-doped BiVO4 for high effectively degrading dye contaminant

Contaminated environment from textile industries have attracted global concern owing to the traits of organic pollutions with high stability against light and chemicals attacks. How to improve the preparation process of photocatalysts and reduce the cost is a considerable requirement for the wide application of photocatalytic wastewater treatment. The Ni-doped BiVO4 (NBVO) process was improved to a facile and reliable hydrothermal method. Ni with a theoretical mass of 0.75% was added to BiVO4 (BVO), which displayed outstanding photocatalytic activity and stability. Under visible light irradiation, the decolorization rate of 0.75% NBVO to Rhodamine B (RhB) can reach 96% within 75 min, and the removal efficiency can still achieve 86% after four successive cycles. The active ingredient center dot O-2(-) confirmed from capture experiments played an indispensable role and was hired to explain the possible photocatalytic mechanism. In addition, the enhanced photocatalytic activity of 0.75% NBVO should be ascribed to the increase in specific surface area (beneficial for adsorption) and the decline in impedance (favorable for photocarrier migration). 0.75% NBVO as a highly efficient visible-light-driven photocatalyst has a brighter prospect for wastewater treatment in the years ahead.