Photonic crystal coupled porous BiVO 4 hybrid for efficient photocatalysis under visible light irradiation

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Materials for energy and sustainability, 2014, Vol.2 (41), p.17366-17370
• Main Authors: Huo, Tianyu, Zhang, Xiufang, Dong, Xiaoli, Zhang, Xinxin, Ma, Chun, Wang, Guowen, Ma, Hongchao, Xue, Mang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/C4TA04178J

A bilayer TiO 2 photonic crystal (PC)/porous BiVO 4 was constructed by using liquid-phase deposition (LPD) and spin coating method for the enhancement of visible-light-driven photocatalytic ability by the improvement of light absorbance. Crystal form, morphology, film thickness, and light absorption performance were investigated. The photocatalytic activity of the bilayer TiO 2 PC/porous BiVO 4 film was evaluated by the degradation of MB and was compared with that of porous BiVO 4 film. The effect of the film thickness of the porous BiVO 4 on its photocatalytic ability was determined. It was found that the film thickness significantly affected the light absorption, and therefore its photocatalytic ability. The bilayer film with 1.03 μm of thickness of porous BiVO 4 film exhibited the highest photocatalytic performance. The photocatalytic ability of porous BiVO 4 was enhanced by combination with a TiO 2 PC layer as the back reflector. This increase could be attributed to the intensified light absorbance produced by reflection from the TiO 2 PC layer. The effects of porous structure and the application of photoelectrocatalytic process on the photocatalytic performance were also discussed.