BiVO₄/CeO₂ Nanocomposites with High Visible-Light-Induced Photocatalytic Activity

Preparation of bismuth vanadate and cerium dioxide (BiVO₄/CeO₂) nanocomposites as visible-light photocatalysts was successfully obtained by coupling a homogeneous precipitation method with hydrothermal techniques. The BiVO₄/CeO₂ nanocomposites with different mole ratios were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Absorption range and band gap energy, which are responsible for the observed photocatalyst behavior, were investigated by UV–vis diffuse reflectance (UV–vis DR) spectroscopy. Photocatalytic activities of the prepared samples were examined by studying the degradation of model dyes Methylene Blue, Methyl Orange, and a mixture of Methylene Blue and Methyl Orange solutions under visible-light irradiation (>400 nm). Results clearly show that the BiVO₄/CeO₂ nanocomposite in a 0.6:0.4 mol ratio exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity in dye wastewater treatment.