Broad spectrum photocatalytic system based on BiVO^sub 4^ and NaYbF^sub 4^:Tm^sup 3+^ upconversion particles for environmental remediation under UV-vis-NIR illumination

The development of photocatalysts responsive towards a broader region of the solar (UV-to-NIR) light is important for efficient harvesting of sunlight for photochemical and photoelectrical applications. In this study, two photocatalytic systems (BV/LEDs and BV/UCPs where UCPs stands for NaYbF4:Tm3+...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Environmental, 2019-04, Vol.243, p.121
Main Authors: Ullah, S, Ferreira-Neto, EP, Hazra, C, Parveen, R, Rojas-Mantilla, HD, Calegaro, ML, Serge-Correales, YE, Rodrigues-Filho, UP, Ribeiro, SJL
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biodegradation
Bismuth
Composition effects
Dyes
Energy gap
Heterojunctions
I.R. radiation
Illumination
Irradiation
Light emitting diodes
Monoclinic lattice
Morphology
Organic chemicals
Phase composition
Photoactivation
Photocatalysis
Photochemicals
Photochemistry
Photodegradation
Photoelectricity
Pollutants
Sulfathiazole
Sunlight
Ultraviolet radiation
Upconversion
Vanadate
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Summary:The development of photocatalysts responsive towards a broader region of the solar (UV-to-NIR) light is important for efficient harvesting of sunlight for photochemical and photoelectrical applications. In this study, two photocatalytic systems (BV/LEDs and BV/UCPs where UCPs stands for NaYbF4:Tm3+ upconversion particles) based on bismuth vanadate (BV) are introduced for photocatalytic degradation of both organic dyes (crystal violet, CV) and pharmaceuticals (sulfathiazole, STZ) under a variety of photoactivation modes including low-power (1.26 W) LEDs and near infrared (NIR) irradiation as well as natural sunlight. The BV/LEDs system makes use of the perfect match between the emission profile of commercial blue LEDs (460 ± 10 nm) and absorption profile of BV (Eg = 2.6 eV) to effectively photodegrade pollutants. The BV/UCPs system, on the other hand, exploits the NIR-to-UV/visible upconverted light from UCPs to allow photodegradation of pollutants under NIR illumination. Moreover, we present a detailed study of the experimental parameters to obtain BV particles with tailored morphology (spherical, rod-like, hyperbranched), crystalline phase (monoclinic, tetragonal or heterojunction biphasic BV) and band gap energy (2.4–2.9 eV). Depending on the phase composition, a synergetic effect in photoactivity is observed in samples containing around 68% monoclinic and 30% tetragonal BV which is ascribed to the formation of monoclinic/tetragonal heterojunction.
ISSN:0926-3373
1873-3883
DOI:10.1016/j.apcatb.2018.09.091