BiVO4 As a Sustainable and Emerging Photocatalyst: Synthesis Methodologies, Engineering Properties, and Its Volatile Organic Compounds Degradation Efficiency

Abstract

Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) is one of the best bismuth-based semiconducting materials because of its narrow band gap energy, good visible light absorption, unique physical and chemical characteristics, and non-toxic nature. In addition, BiVO4 with different morphologies has been synthesized and exhibited excellent visible light photocatalytic efficiency in the degradation of various organic pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Nevertheless, the commercial scale utilization of BiVO4 is significantly limited because of the poor separation (faster recombination rate) and transport ability of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. So, engineering/modifications of BiVO4 materials are performed to enhance their structural, electronic, and morphological properties. Thus, this review article aims to provide a critical overview of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), various semiconducting nanomaterials, BiVO4 synthesis methodologies, engineering of BiVO4 properties through making binary and ternary nanocomposites, and coupling with metals/non-metals and metal nanoparticles and the development of Z-scheme type nanocomposites, etc., and their visible light photocatalytic efficiency in VOCs degradation. In addition, future challenges and the way forward for improving the commercial-scale application of BiVO4-based semiconducting nanomaterials are also discussed. Thus, we hope that this review is a valuable resource for designing BiVO4-based nanocomposites with superior visible-light-driven photocatalytic efficiency in VOCs degradation.

A Meta-Analysis of Influencing Factors on the Activity of BiVO4-Based Photocatalysts

“…Environmental pollutants, including organic and inorganic pollutants, pose a serious threat to the natural environment and human health [ 88 ]. BiVO 4 and BiVO 4 -based composites, which are non-toxic to the environment, can effectively degrade various organic and inorganic pollutants in water bodies [ 89 , 90 ]. In this study, the efficiency of BiVO 4 -based composites in degrading environmental pollutants under various conditions was investigated in order to better understand the photocatalytic performance of various composites.…”

Advances in the optical and electronic properties and applications of bismuth-based semiconductor materials

“…103,107 An earlier study by Kudo et al 108 has shown that BiVO 4 exhibits broad-spectrum absorption under ultraviolet and visible light, causing high photocatalytic activity. Since then, significant studies have been carried out on the unique and excellent photoelectric properties of BiVO 4 and suggest a wide range of applications in fields such as organic pollutant degradation, 109 water splitting, 110 CO 2 reduction, 111 and photoanodes. 112 In order to further improve the photocatalytic activity, visible light absorption intensity, and other photoelectric properties of BiVO 4 , researchers have also attempted to improve the high electron–hole recombination rate and poor electron mobility of BiVO 4 by element doping, 113 vacancy introduction, 114 or heterostructure construction.…”

Review of Bi-based catalysts in piezocatalytic, photocatalytic and piezo-photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants

“…Bi-based materials have been widely applied in photocatalysis because of their suitable band gap, excellent visible light response, low cost, high stability, and non-toxicity. 41–43 However, Bi-based materials inevitably have some disadvantages, such as fast recombination of photo-generated electron–hole pairs and poor electron transfer kinetics, which lead to unsatisfactory catalytic activity. 44 Moreover, partial Bi-based catalysts, such as Bi 2 WO 6 , BiVO 4 , BiFeO 3 , BiOIO 3 , etc ., have piezoelectric properties, 15,45,46 and are denoted as Bi-based non-centrosymmetric materials.…”