Characterization and Visible Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activity of BiVO4/BiOCl/Bi2S3 Nanocomposites Prepared by Sonochemical Process

Photodecomposition performance enhancement of BiVO4 is carried out by combining it with compatible semiconductors, such as bismuth oxyhalides and sulfide-based photocatalyst materials. In this article, the synthesis of BiVO4/BiOCl/Bi2S3 is carried out by a one-step sonochemical process at room temperature with various S:Bi mole ratios (1:9, 2:8, and 3:7). The crystallinity and morphological features of the synthesized powders display a BiVO4 monoclinic phase accompanied by BiOCl tetragonal and Bi2S3 orthorhombic phases. Field-emission electron microscopy micrographs show an irregular shape with various particle sizes and layering with the characteristic shape of BiOCl. The optical bandgap of the composites has various values in the range of 1.3-3.3 eV. The best photocatalytic performance is observed for the 2-8 composite sample, which produced complete degradation of RhB, with k = 0.17 min(-1), after 20 min of visible light exposure.

Automated summary

The photodecomposition performance of BiVO4 is enhanced by combining it with compatible semiconductors, such as bismuth oxyhalides and sulfide-based photocatalyst materials. In this article, BiVO4/BiOCl/Bi2S3 composites with different S:Bi mole ratios were synthesized using a one-step sonochemical process at room temperature. The synthesized powders exhibited the monoclinic phase of BiVO4 along with the tetragonal phase of BiOCl and the orthorhombic phase of Bi2S3. The best photocatalytic performance was observed for the 2-8 composite sample, which achieved complete degradation of RhB under visible light exposure for 20 minutes.