Visible light-induced degradation of methylene blue by photocatalyst of bismuth layered Bi7VO13 nanoparticles

A visible-light-driven photocatalyst of Bi7VO13 nanoparticles was prepared by the Pechini method. The nanoparticles were characterized with the measurements such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV–vis absorption spectrum. Bi7VO13 presents the indirect allowed electronic transition with narrow band gap energy of 2.13eV. The photocatalyst shows an excellent activity on the photo-degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible-light irradiation. The photocatalysis was discussed on the base of the structure characteristics such as (Bi2O2)2+ layers connected by the isolated VO4 groups and the good conductivity. This vanadate could be a potential photocatalyst. •A novel visible-light-driven photocatalyst Bi7VO13 nanoparticle was firstly developed by the Pechini method.•Bi7VO13 nanoparticle shows high absorption in UV–vis wavelength region with a narrow band gap of 2.13eV.•Bi7VO13 nanoparticle shows high activity in the MB degradation with a pseudo-first-order reaction with a constant 0.0263min−1.•The dominated (Bi2O2)2+ layers, the polar VO4 groups and the good conductivity are the structural superiority for photocatalytic capacity.