Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic properties of Cu-loaded BiVO4

A series of Cu-loaded BiVO4 (Cu-BiVO4) catalysts were prepared by impregnation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and special surface area. The photocatalytic activities of Cu-BiVO4 catalysts for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) were found to depend largely on the Cu content and the calcination temperature. The optimum Cu loading and calcination temperature were found to be 5 at.% and 300 deg C, respectively. The results of XPS and SEM analysis indicated that Cu, CuO in this case, was dispersed on the surface of BiVO4. The results of DRS analysis showed that the Cu-BiVO4 series catalysts had significant optical absorption in the visible region between 550 and 800 nm and found that the absorption intensity increased with the enhancement of Cu content. An efficient N-demethylation of MB using Cu-BiVO4 catalyst (5 at.% Cu content) calcined at 300 deg C was also observed.