Fe2O3/3DOM BiVO4: High-performance photocatalysts for the visible light-driven degradation of 4-nitrophenol.

The three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) BiVO 4 and its supported iron oxide ( x Fe 2 O 3 /3DOM BiVO 4 , x = 0.18, 0.97, and 3.40 wt%) photocatalysts were prepared using the ascorbic acid-assisted polymethyl methacrylate-templating and incipient wetness impregnation methods, respectively. Physicochemical properties of the materials were characterized by means of numerous analytical techniques, and their photocatalytic activities were evaluated for the degradation of 4-nitrophenol under visible light illumination. It is found that the BiVO 4 possessed a high-quality 3DOM architecture with a monoclinic crystal phase, and the Fe 2 O 3 was highly dispersed on the surface of 3DOM BiVO 4 . The x Fe 2 O 3 /3DOM BiVO 4 samples much outperformed the 3DOM BiVO 4 sample, and 0.97Fe 2 O 3 /3DOM BiVO 4 showed the best photocatalytic performance (98% 4-nitrophenol was degraded in the presence of 0.6 mL H 2 O 2 within 30 min of visible light illumination) and excellent photocatalytic stability. The introduction of H 2 O 2 to the reaction system could promote the photodegradation of 4-nitrophenol by providing the active OH species generated via the reaction of photoinduced electrons and H 2 O 2 . The pseudo-first-order reaction rate constants (0.0876–0.1295 min −1 ) obtained over x Fe 2 O 3 /3DOM BiVO 4 were much higher than those (0.0033–0.0395 min −1 ) obtained over 3DOM or Bulk BiVO 4 and Fe 2 O 3 /Bulk BiVO 4 , with the 0.97Fe 2 O 3 /3DOM BiVO 4 sample exhibiting the highest rate constant. The enhanced photocatalytic performance of 0.97Fe 2 O 3 /3DOM BiVO 4 was associated with its unique porous architecture, high surface area, Fe 2 O 3 − BiVO 4 heterojunction, good light-harvesting ability, high adsorbed oxygen species concentration, and excellent separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes as well as the photo-Fenton degradation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]