PHOTOCATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF BISMUTH VANADATE FOR THE DEGRADATION OF ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

Abstract

We synthesized the nanoparticles of Bi4V2O11 with particle size less than 30 nm by combustion method and they were found to be in monoclinic phase (i.e., α-phase), confirmed by X-ray diffraction, Raman and Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy. Morphology of the α- Bi4V2O11 was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Photocatalytic activity of α- Bi4V2O11 in degradation of common organic dyes, such as, Rhodamine B (Rh B) and Methylene Blue (MB) was investigated under UV irradiation. Furthermore, γ- Bi4V2O11 was obtained by post annealing treatment of α- Bi4V2O11 to investigate the phase transition and size dependent effects on photocatalytic activity. α- Bi4V2O11 has shown better photocatalytic activity compared to γ- Bi4V2O11 which is attributed to its smaller particle size enhancing its surface to volume ratio and being in a different phase. BET measurement is also performed in order to observe the effect of surface area on photocatalytic activity. Complete removal of aqueous Rh B dye was realized after UV light irradiation for 45 min with α- Bi4V2O11 as the photocatalyst.