The Preparation of In_xBi_1-xVO₄Photocatalyst Particles and their Photocatalytic Activity

Abstract

InxBi1-xVO4 photocatalyst particles were prepared by low temperature solid reaction using nitrate of indium and bismuth and NH4VO4 as the starting materials, and followed by the sintering at various temperatures. The as-prepared samples were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and the photocatalytic activity was carried out by the concentration change of methylene blue in the solution after visible light irradiation. The experiment results show that the orthorhombic phase InVO4 is dominant in the photocatalyst samples prepared at sintering temperature higher than 600°C. In addition, the increase in indium content in the InxBi1-xVO4 particle has greatly improved the photocatalytic activity for decomposition of aqueous methylene blue under visible light irradiation.