Catalytic Activity of BiVO4-graphene Nanocomposites for the Reduction of Nitrophenols and the Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes

摘要

BiVO4 nanomaterial was synthesized from bismuth (III) nitrate pentahydrate [Bi(NO3)3·5H2O] and ammonium vanadate (V) [NH4VO3]. The BiVO4-graphene nanocomposite was fabricated by calcining the BiVO4 nanomaterial and graphene under an oxygen-free atmosphere at 700 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to characterize structural and morphological properties of samples. The catalytic activity of the BiVO4-graphene nanocomposite was studied for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol, 3-nitrophenol and 2-nitrophenol by sodium boro-hydride [NaBH4]. The photocatalytic activity of the BiVO4-graphene nanocomposite was demonstrated by the degradation of organic dyes like BG, MB, MO and RhB under irradiation at 365 nm. The catalytic and photocatalytic activity were studied by UV-vis spectrophotometry.