Effect of Ultrasonic Irradiation Time on Physical Properties and Photocatalytic Performance of BiVO₄ Nanoparticles Prepared via Sonochemical Process

Abstract

Currently, photocatalyst materials have gained considerable attraction because of very rich economic performance of decomposition of highly toxic organic compound to lower toxic composition. The effort of this work was paid to study the effect of sonochemical ultrasonic irradiation time on the relevant properties of visible-light-driven bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) photocatalyst without any further thermal treatment process. The chemical bonding of BiVO₄ nanopowder was investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectrometer technique. Meanwhile their structure was characterized by X-ray diffraction technique (XRD). Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) was used to observe particle morphology and chemical compositions was investigated by Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Photocatalytic performance of BiVO₄ nanopowder was studied by decomposition of organic dye as organic pollutant model using visible light to excite photocatalyst materials. It was found that sonochemical irradiation time supplied during chemical process can effectively expedite the formation of BiVO₄ nanoparticle. The optimized condition to obtain the product with enhanced photocatalytic performance of 60% decomposition is achieved as the sample was prepared at 40 min ultrasonic irradiation.

Keywords:

• Photocatalyst
• bismuth vanadate
• sonochemical process

Acknowledgements

Authors (C.K. Jayasankar) would like to thank King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang under Academic Melting Pot Program.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Thailand Research Fund (TRF) through the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. program (Grant No. PHD/0169/2561).