Microwave-assisted synthesis of nano-scale BiVO4 photocatalysts and their excellent visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity for the degradation of ciprofloxacin

New-type synthetic methods of BiVO 4 photocatalysts with high visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity are much desired. In this study, the branched BiVO 4 nanocrystal photocatalysts were successfully synthesized by a facile microwave-assisted method. They have unique strawberry-like structure with 5   nm sized mastoids scattered on the 200   nm sized particle surface. The obtained photocatalyst exhibits excellent visible-light response ( E g   =   2.5   eV) and super-high activities in degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP). After Pt loading, the photocatalytic activities of branched BiVO 4 photocatalysts were enhanced tremendously. Pt nanocrystals on the particle surface not only act as charge collectors and transporters but also produce many active sites. The 2   wt.% Pt loaded BiVO 4 nanocrystal photocatalysts exhibit the CIP visible-light-driven photodegradation ratio of 91.97%, which show enhancement of ca. 25% compared with undecorated pure BiVO 4 photocatalysts.