Synthesis and Photocatalytic Activity of Ag-Doped BiVO₄

Abstract

Ag-doped BiVO 4 semiconductor photocatalysts were synthesized via the one-step hydrothermal method. The microstructure and morphology of catalysts were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, and Energy dispersive X-ray detector (EDS) and photocatalytic activities of BiVO 4 catalysts with and without Ag doping were evaluated by degrading methylene blue (MB) under visible-light irradiation. UV-Vis absorption spectra were measured to evaulate the photocatalytic activity of the as-synthesized catalysts. The results suggested that Ag-doped BiVO 4 with larger rod-like particle size but better crystallnity has the stronger UV absorption. In comparison with pure BiVO4, degradation rate of MB was increased about 18% in Ag-doped BiVO 4 with the Ag + dopant concentration of 15 mol%.