Photophysical and Photocatalytic Properties of Ca₁_-<i>_x</i>Bi<i>_x</i>V<i>_x</i>Mo₁_-<i>_x</i>O₄ Solid Solutions

Abstract

New solid solutions with the composition of Ca₁_-<i>_x</i>Bi<i>_x</i>V<i>_x</i>Mo₁_-<i>_x</i>O₄ prepared by a solid-state method were found\nas novel photocatalysts with enhanced activity for O₂ evolution from aqueous solutions containing sacrificial\nregent AgNO₃ under visible-light irradiation (>420 nm). The obtained solid solutions crystallized in tetragonal\ncrystal structures, except one of the end compounds, BiVO₄, which crystallized in monoclinic structures. The\ndiffuse reflection spectra of the solid solutions shift monotonically to a long wavelength as the ratio of Bi (V)\nions to Ca (Mo) ions increases in the solid solution. The band structure and the dependence of the photocatalytic\nproperties were discussed in relation to the solid-solution compositions and photophysical properties.