Photocatalytic activity of BiVO4 nanospheres obtained by solution combustion synthesis using sodium carboxymethylcellulose

BiVO4 nanospheres were obtained through solution combustion synthesis (SCS) in presence of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). The CMC polymer had a double function, as a fuel and as a protecting agent in the particles growth process. The formation and characterization of oxide was carried out by simultaneous thermal analysis (TGA/DTA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and surface analysis (BET). The as-prepared BiVO4 nanospheres calcined at 300 degrees C exhibited higher photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation than BiVO4 samples prepared by coprecipitation and solid-state reaction methods in the degradation of rhodamine B (rhB). This behavior could be associated to their higher specific surface area (BET) and morphology. The analysis of the total organic carbon showed that the mineralization of rhB over a BiVO4 photocatalyst is feasible (43% after 100 h of irradiation). A mechanism of formation of BiVO4 nanospheres is also discussed. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.