Photodegradation of RhB over YVO4/g-C3N4 composites under visible light irradiation

Abstract

A series of novel YVO₄/g-C₃N₄ photocatalysts were prepared by a facile mixing and calcination method. The obtained composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and a photocurrent–time experiment. The rhodamine B dye was selected as a model pollutant to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared YVO₄/g-C₃N₄ composite. It shows that the photocatalytic activity of g-C₃N₄ can be largely improved by the doping of YVO₄. The optimal YVO₄ content is determined to be 25.8 wt%; and the corresponding degradation rate is 2.34 h⁻¹, about 2.75 folds that of pure g-C₃N₄. A possible mechanism of YVO₄ on the enhancement of visible light performance is proposed. It suggests that YVO₄ plays a key role, which may lead to efficiently suppressing the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers, consequently, improving the visible light photoactivity.