Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity and Mechanism of La3+- Doped BiPO4

Abstract

Abstract. La 3+-doped BiPO 4 photocatalysts were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. The morphologies, structures, components, and light absorption properties of the photocatalysts were evaluated using XRD, FESEM, EDX, BET, XPS, and DRS techniques. La-doping could improve the photocatalytic activity of BiPO 4 for degrading methylene blue under ultraviolet irradiation, The apparent reaction rate of La 3+ -BiPO 4 was 0.31min -1 , which was 3.4 times higher than that of pure BiPO 4 . The outstanding photocatalytic activity could be mainly attributed to the higher valence band position and more effective electron-hole pair separation, ensured by Mott-Schottky and EIS test. Moreover, radical scavenger experiments confirmed that holes constituted the active species.