Title: A review in visible-light-driven BiVO₄ photocatalysts

Authors: Yue-Hua Xu, Chao-Jun Liu, Ming-Jie Chen, You-Qin Liu

Addresses: Institute of Biomaterial, College of Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China. ' College of Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China. ' Institute of Biomaterial, College of Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China. ' Institute of Biomaterial, College of Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China

Abstract: Novel photocatalysts excited by visible light have been extensively studied recently, and bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) is one of the novel visible-light-driven photocatalysts. This paper aims to review BiVO₄ photocatalysts according to the preparation method. Moreover, the main barriers are the rapid recombination of photo-generated electron-hole pairs on BiVO₄, so modified BiVO₄ photocatalysts are also reviewed. The relationship between the photocatalytic activity of BiVO₄ and their physicochemical properties are mainly discussed, and practical applications related to environmental contaminants and photocatalytic water splitting are also described. At last, some prospects are proposed.

Keywords: bismuth vanadate; BiVO4; visible light; photocatalysts; doping; nanotechnology; photocatalytic water splitting; environmental pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2011.040513

International Journal of Nanoparticles, 2011 Vol.4 No.2/3, pp.268 - 283

Published online: 13 Mar 2015 *

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