Synthesis and characterization of g-C3N4/BiVO4 composite photocatalysts with improved visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance

Novel visible-light-driven g-C₃N₄/BiVO₄ composite photocatalysts were fabricated via sol–gel and simple mixing and heating methods. The photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric, Fourier transform infrared, transmission electron microscope, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectra. The results indicated that BiVO₄ was well dispersed on g-C₃N₄ sheet and an interaction between g-C₃N₄ and BiVO₄ was confirmed, which were facile to the electron transfer from g-C₃N₄ to BiVO₄ species. The mechanism was further induced to the heterojunction effect to improve the photocatalytic efficiency. The g-C₃N₄/BiVO₄ heterojunction at a weight ratio of 80 % calcined at 500 °C exhibited the most excellent photocatalytic ability for RhB decolorization under visible-light irradiation (λ > 420 nm) which was extraordinary more active than that of pure components.