BiVO4 As a Sustainable and Emerging Photocatalyst: Synthesis Methodologies, Engineering Properties, and Its Volatile Organic Compounds Degradation Efficiency

Abstract

Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) is one of the best bismuth-based semiconducting materials because of its narrow band gap energy, good visible light absorption, unique physical and chemical characteristics, and non-toxic nature. In addition, BiVO4 with different morphologies has been synthesized and exhibited excellent visible light photocatalytic efficiency in the degradation of various organic pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Nevertheless, the commercial scale utilization of BiVO4 is significantly limited because of the poor separation (faster recombination rate) and transport ability of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. So, engineering/modifications of BiVO4 materials are performed to enhance their structural, electronic, and morphological properties. Thus, this review article aims to provide a critical overview of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), various semiconducting nanomaterials, BiVO4 synthesis methodologies, engineering of BiVO4 properties through making binary and ternary nanocomposites, and coupling with metals/non-metals and metal nanoparticles and the development of Z-scheme type nanocomposites, etc., and their visible light photocatalytic efficiency in VOCs degradation. In addition, future challenges and the way forward for improving the commercial-scale application of BiVO4-based semiconducting nanomaterials are also discussed. Thus, we hope that this review is a valuable resource for designing BiVO4-based nanocomposites with superior visible-light-driven photocatalytic efficiency in VOCs degradation.