Preparation and Characterization of BiVO4 Powder by the Sol-gel Method

Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) powder was successfully prepared by the sol-gel method. Bismuth nitrate and ammonium vanadate were used as the starting precursors with mole ratio of 1:1 in ethanol media at 70 degrees C for 1h. The yellow gel was calcined at 400-600 degrees C for 2h. The phase of BiVO4 powder was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The morphology and chemical composition of BiVO4 powder were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS). The functional groups of BiVO4 powder was identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and the surface area of BiVO4 powder was determined by Brunauer, Emmett and Teller technique (BET).