BiVO₄/CeO₂ Nanocomposites with\nHigh Visible-Light-Induced Photocatalytic Activity

Abstract

Preparation of bismuth vanadate and cerium dioxide (BiVO₄/CeO₂) nanocomposites as visible-light photocatalysts\nwas successfully obtained by coupling a homogeneous precipitation\nmethod with hydrothermal techniques. The BiVO₄/CeO₂ nanocomposites with different mole ratios were synthesized\nand characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy,\nand transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Absorption range and band\ngap energy, which are responsible for the observed photocatalyst behavior,\nwere investigated by UV–vis diffuse reflectance (UV–vis\nDR) spectroscopy. Photocatalytic activities of the prepared samples\nwere examined by studying the degradation of model dyes Methylene\nBlue, Methyl Orange, and a mixture of Methylene Blue and Methyl Orange\nsolutions under visible-light irradiation (>400 nm). Results clearly\nshow that the BiVO₄/CeO₂ nanocomposite in a\n0.6:0.4 mol ratio exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity in\ndye wastewater treatment.