title: Synthesis of novel CeO2-BiVO4/FAC composites with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic properties.
abstract: To utilize visible light more effectively in photocatalytic reactions, a fly ash cenosphere (FAC)-supported CeO2-BiVO4 (CeO2-BiVO4/FAC) composite photocatalyst was prepared by modified metalorganic decomposition and impregnation methods. The physical and photophysical properties of the composite have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectra. The XRD patterns exhibited characteristic diffraction peaks of both BiVO4 and CeO2 crystalline phases. The XPS results showed that Ce was present as both Ce(4+) and Ce(3+) oxidation states in CeO2 and dispersed on the surface of BiVO4 to constitute a p-n heterojunction composite. The absorption threshold of the CeO2-BiVO4/FAC composite shifted to a longer wavelength in the UV-Vis absorption spectrum compared to the pure CeO2 and pure BiVO4. The composites exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity for Methylene Blue (MB) degradation under visible light irradiation. It was found that the 7.5wt.% CeO2-BiVO4/FAC composite showed the highest photocatalytic activity for MB dye wastewater treatment.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.; School of Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing 211171, China. Electronic address: jzmary@163.com.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
authors.forename: Chuang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.. Electronic address: qli@nju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D001729:Bismuth / Q000737:chemistry*; D002563:Cerium / Q000737:chemistry*; D060729:Coal Ash; D008751:Methylene Blue; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010782:Photolysis; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D014638:Vanadates / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D060729:Coal Ash; C091754:bismuth vanadium tetraoxide; D002563:Cerium; D014638:Vanadates; C030583:ceric oxide; D008751:Methylene Blue; D001729:Bismuth
keywords: BiVO(4); CeO(2); Composites; Fly ash cenospheres (FACs); Photocatalysis