The electrospun-assisted assembly of bismuth-modified BiVO4porous nanofibers with enhanced photocatalytic performance

Abstract

Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) is a promising photocatalytic material for use in environmental protection and water splitting. However, its short photogenerated carrier lifetime and narrow visible-light response restrict its extensive application. Herein, a novel electrospinning method was developed to prepare bismuth (Bi)-modified BiVO4 (Bi/BiVO4) porous nanofibers. The morphologies, structures, and chemical states of the obtained samples were characterized using a series of analytical techniques. The photocatalytic performance of the Bi/BiVO4 porous nanofibers was evaluated via the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible-light irradiation. The enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity of Bi/BiVO4 can be attributed to the Bi nanoparticles, which exhibit a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect and have semiconductor character, extending the optical absorption of BiVO4 and restraining the recombination of electron-hole pairs during the photocatalytic degradation process, respectively. In this work, new insight is provided into the fabrication of a Bi/BiVO4 composite, which can act as an outstanding visible-light responsive photocatalyst, facilitating its application in the field of environmental protection.