Preparation of YbVO4 by Sol-Gel Method and Its Photocatalytic Activity

Using ytterbium nitrate pentahydrate (Yb(NO3)3·5H2O), ammonium metavanadate (NH4VO3) and citric acid monohydrate (C6H8O7·H2O) as main raw materials, the YbVO4 was prepared by sol-gel method. The samples were characterized by thermogravimetry differential scanning calorimeter (TG-DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), diffuse reflection spectrometer (DRS) and Fourier infrared spectrometer (FT-IR). The photocatalytic activity of YbVO4 was studied by using 10 mg/L methyl orange as simulated wastewater. The results show that pure YbVO4 can be prepared by calcining at 500 °C to 900 °C. The surface of YbVO4 sample prepared at different temperatures is porous and irregular. The forbidden band width of YbVO4 sample calcined at 700 °C is about 3.04 eV. Under ultraviolet light conditions, the degradation rate of methyl orange was over 95% after illumination for 30 min with YbVO4 sample calcined at 700 °C. YbVO4 show excellent photocatalytic activity for degradation of methyl orange. This indicates that YbVO4 is a new photocatalyst with wide application prospect in the field of photocatalysis.