Electrochemical performance and enhanced photocatalytic activity of Ce-doped BiVO4 under visible light irradiation

Ce-BiVO4 composites have been synthesized via a simple precipitation-impregnation method and were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrum (DRS), electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS) and photocurrent. All the BiVO4 and Ce-BiVO4 samples are composed of monoclinic scheelite BiVO4. Compared to BiVO4, the increased photocurrent and decreased diameter of the semicircle have been observed for Ce-BiVO4, indicating that the Ce-doping can enhance interfacial electron transfer for CeBiVO4. Ce-BiVO4 composites show enhanced activity in the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B under visible light irradiation in comparison with P25 and pure BiVO4, and 1.0%Ce-BiVO4 shows the best photocatalytic activity because of its enhanced light absorption, narrowed bandgap and improved separation of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs, which was achieved as a result of photogenerated electrons transfer from the BiVO4 to the Ce4+ ions. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.