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Synthesis of BiVO 4 @C Core–Shell Structure on Reduced Graphene Oxide with Enhanced Visible‐Light Photocatalytic Activity
Author(s) -
Sun Zhihua,
Li Chenzhe,
Zhu Shenmin,
Cho Maenghyo,
Chen Zhixin,
Cho Kyeongjae,
Liao Yongliang,
Yin Chao,
Zhang Di
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201500379
Subject(s) - graphene , oxide , photocatalysis , materials science , chemical engineering , nanocomposite , carbon fibers , amorphous carbon , rhodamine b , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , amorphous solid , composite number , chemistry , catalysis , composite material , organic chemistry , engineering , metallurgy
Herein, a facile strategy for the controllable synthesis of BiVO 4 @C core–shell nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) is reported. The BiVO 4 particle size can be controlled in the process by adjusting the volume ratio of glycerol in the sol–gel solution. The glycerol layers adsorbed on BiVO 4 (BiVO 4 @glycerol) made it possible to form hydrogen bonds between BiVO 4 @glycerol and graphene oxide with the assistance of ultrasound. After thermal treatment, glycerol adsorbed on the BiVO 4 particles formed amorphous carbon shells to link the particles and RGO. As a result, the obtained RGO‐BiVO 4 @C nanocomposite showed a five times higher rate in O 2 evolution from water under visible‐light irradiation. Also, it demonstrated a six times higher photocatalytic performance enhancement than that of pure BiVO 4 in the degradation of Rhodamine B. The enhanced performance is attributed to the carbon shells that restrict the growth of BiVO 4 , the reduced graphene oxide that improves the electronic conductivity of the composite, and importantly, the bonds formed between the carbon shells and RGO that reduce the recombination loss of photogenerated charges effectively. The strategy is simple, effective, and can be extended to other ternary oxides with controlled size and high performance.