Evolution of the physicochemical and photocatalytic properties of BaO embedded in bismuth phosphovanadates glasses

BaO-containing glasses of Bi2O–P2O5-V2O5 are synthesized by a conventional melt-quenching method. The as-prepared samples are first heat-treated at 350 °C overnight, and then heat-treated at 1000 °C for 30 min. The as-prepared samples are studied for their physicochemical properties using FTIR, SEM, and EDX analysis. A study of the as-prepared photocatalytic properties for the degradation of common organic dyes such as RhB under UV light is carried out. The highest rate of degradation (70%) is observed when a Bi(0.5-y)BayP(0.75-0.5y)V(0.75-0.5y)O4.5-3y catalyst with y = 0.1 was used. This sample maintains high photocatalytic activity after three cycles, without any significant decrease.