Microwave-assisted synthesis of bismuth vanadate nanoflowers decorated with gold nanoparticles with enhanced photocatalytic activity

Author(s)

Souza, Juliana S. ^[1] ; Hirata, Fernando T. H. ^[2] ; Corio, Paola ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed ABC, Ctr Ciencias Nat & Humanas, BR-09210580 Santo Andre, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Quim, CP 26077, BR-05513970 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF NANOPARTICLE RESEARCH; v. 21, n. 2 FEB 10 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

We describe the synthesis of bismuth vanadate nanoflowers decorated with Au nanoparticles (Au-BiVO4NF) using conventional oil bath or microwave irradiation as a heating source, where de AuNPs exhibit sizes of 29 +/- 10nm and 50 +/- 11nm. We show how microwaves can be used to replace well-stablished methods in the synthesis of inorganic nanomaterials and drastically reduce both time and energy consumptions. The Au-BiVO4NF obtained under microwave irradiation exhibited the same physical-chemical properties of those prepared through conventional heating; however, time lapse for synthetizing the heterojunction decreased from 4h to only 10min. The heterojunction is a very promising photocatalyst under visible light irradiation since BiVO4 exhibits low band-gap energy and Au nanoparticles can behave as electron sinks and/or as electron sources through plasmon resonance, increasing charge separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. This synergic effect resulted in a heterojunction able to degrade similar to 95% of methylene blue after 6h of UV-visible light irradiation. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/01020-3 - Plasmon-enhancement on bismuth vanadate nanostructures decorated with metal nanoparticles
• Grantee: Juliana dos Santos de Souza Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 16/21070-5 - Vibrational spectroscopy with spatial resolution
• Grantee: Mauro Carlos Costa Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/12688-8 - Development of multi-hierarchic electrodes based on Au-BiVO¬4 and ZnO for photoelectrochemical water splitting
• Grantee: Fernando Takashi Harada Hirata
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 17/11395-7 - Microwave-assisted synthesis of metal oxides semiconductors heterojunctions with photocatalytic applications
• Grantee: Juliana dos Santos de Souza Silva
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants