Facile synthesis of hierarchically nanostructured bismuth vanadate: An efficient photocatalyst for degradation and detection of hexavalent chromium.

Heterostructured nanomaterials can paid more significant attention in environmental safety for the detection and degradation/removal of hazardous toxic chemicals over a decay. Here, we report the preparation of hierarchically nanostructured shuriken like bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) as a bifunctional catalyst for photocatalytic degradation and electrochemical detection of highly toxic hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) using the green deep eutectic solvent reline, which allows morphology control in one of the less energy-intensive routes. The SEM results showed a good dispersion of BiVO4 catalyst and the HR-TEM revealed an average particle size of ca. 5-10 nm. As a result, the BiVO4 exhibited good photocatalytic activity under UV-light about 95% reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) was observed in 160 min. The recyclability of BiVO4 catalyst exhibited an appreciable reusability and stability of the catalyst towards the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI). Also, the BiVO4-modified screen printed carbon electrode (BiVO4/SPCE) displayed an excellent electrochemical performance towards the electrochemical detection of Cr(VI). Besides, the BiVO4/SPCE demonstrated tremendous electrocatalytic activity, lower linear range (0.01-264.5 μM), detection limit (0.0035 μM) and good storage stability towards the detection of Cr(VI). Importantly, the BiVO4 modified electrode was also found to be a good recovery in water samples for practical applications.

[1]  Younghun Kim,et al.  Preparation, characterization and application of Nd–TiO2 photocatalyst for the reduction of Cr(VI) under UV light illumination , 2007 .

[2]  Bingqing Wei,et al.  Hierarchical Dendrite-Like Magnetic Materials of Fe3O4, γ-Fe2O3, and Fe with High Performance of Microwave Absorption , 2011 .

[3]  Joaquín García‐Álvarez.  Deep Eutectic Mixtures: Promising Sustainable Solvents for Metal-Catalysed and Metal-Mediated Organic Reactions , 2015 .

[4]  M. Gutiérrez,et al.  Phosphorus-doped carbon–carbon nanotube hierarchical monoliths as true three-dimensional electrodes in supercapacitor cells , 2016 .

[5]  Yunping Liu,et al.  Copper-organic cationic ring with an inserted arsenic-vanadium polyanionic cluster for efficient catalytic Cr(VI) reduction using formic acid. , 2015, Inorganic chemistry.

[6]  Peng Zhang,et al.  Monoclinic porous BiVO4 networks decorated by discrete g-C3N4 nano-islands with tunable coverage for highly efficient photocatalysis. , 2014, Small.

[7]  Laxmi Adhikari,et al.  Rapid Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles in a Halide-Free Deep Eutectic Solvent , 2018 .

[8]  Aicheng Chen,et al.  Sensitive and selective electrochemical detection of chromium(VI) based on gold nanoparticle-decorated titania nanotube arrays. , 2014, The Analyst.

[9]  Gary A. Baker,et al.  Deep eutectic solvents: sustainable media for nanoscale and functional materials. , 2014, Accounts of chemical research.

[10]  P. Woodward,et al.  Structure and bonding in SnWO4, PbWO4, and BiVO4: lone pairs vs inert pairs. , 2007, Inorganic chemistry.

[11]  Jinghui Zeng,et al.  One-Pot Fabrication of Hollow and Porous Pd-Cu Alloy Nanospheres and Their Remarkably Improved Catalytic Performance for Hexavalent Chromium Reduction. , 2016, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[12]  Yiseul Park,et al.  Preparation of Bi-Based Ternary Oxide Photoanodes BiVO4, Bi2WO6, and Bi2Mo3O12 Using Dendritic Bi Metal Electrodes. , 2014, The journal of physical chemistry letters.

[13]  Yihe Zhang,et al.  Two Novel Bi-Based Borate Photocatalysts: Crystal Structure, Electronic Structure, Photoelectrochemical Properties, and Photocatalytic Activity under Simulated Solar Light Irradiation , 2013 .

[14]  N. Tran,et al.  Synthesis and Application of Dendritic Fibrous Nanosilica/Gold Hybrid Nanomaterials , 2018, ChemistryOpen.

[15]  Chuan Zhao,et al.  Reduced Phosphomolybdates as Molecular Catalysts for Hexavalent Chromium Reduction , 2015 .

[16]  D. Leung,et al.  A novel three-dimensional heterojunction photocatalyst for the photocatalytic oxidation of crystal violet and reduction of Cr6. , 2018, Chemosphere.

[17]  Le Shi,et al.  Vastly Enhanced BiVO4 Photocatalytic OER Performance by NiCoO2 as Cocatalyst , 2017 .

[18]  H. Ngo,et al.  A breakthrough biosorbent in removing heavy metals: Equilibrium, kinetic, thermodynamic and mechanism analyses in a lab-scale study. , 2016, The Science of the total environment.

[19]  Yi Du,et al.  Improving the photo-oxidative capability of BiOBr via crystal facet engineering , 2017 .

[20]  Q. Wei,et al.  Efficient photocatalytic reduction of aqueous Cr(VI) over CaSb2O5(OH)2 nanocrystals under UV light illumination , 2012 .

[21]  A. Kassiba,et al.  Mechanochemical synthesis of nanostructured BiVO4 and investigations of related features , 2012 .

[22]  Jianshi Zhou,et al.  Soft X-ray spectroscopic studies of the electronic structure of M:BiVO4 (M = Mo, W) single crystals , 2015 .

[23]  L. Qin,et al.  Enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of Gd-doped BiFeO3 nanoparticles and mechanism insight , 2016, Scientific Reports.

[24]  Yen‐Pei Fu,et al.  Facile synthesis of deep eutectic solvent assisted BiOCl/BiVO4@AgNWs plasmonic photocatalysts under visible light enhanced catalytic performance , 2017 .

[25]  Yen‐Pei Fu,et al.  Magnetic recyclable photocatalysts of Ni-Cu-Zn ferrite@SiO2@TiO2@Ag and their photocatalytic activities , 2017 .

[26]  Dong Zhang,et al.  Characterization and photocatalytic properties of N-doped BiVO4 synthesized via a sol–gel method , 2013 .

[27]  Efficient photocatalytic degradation of phenol over Co3O4/BiVO4 composite under visible light irradiation. , 2006, The journal of physical chemistry. B.

[28]  S. Musić,et al.  Synthesis and characterisation of bismuth(III) vanadate , 2005 .

[29]  Lisha Zhang,et al.  Bi2WO6 nano- and microstructures: shape control and associated visible-light-driven photocatalytic activities. , 2007, Small.

[30]  M. Bergamini,et al.  Development of a voltammetric sensor for chromium(VI) determination in wastewater sample , 2007 .

[31]  Wei Jin,et al.  Recent advances in electrochemical detection of toxic Cr(VI) , 2015 .

[32]  Di Li,et al.  Hydrothermal synthesis of Bi2WO6 with a new tungsten source and enhanced photocatalytic activity of Bi2WO6 hybridized with C3N4. , 2018, Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology.

[33]  M. Wang,et al.  Effective visible light-active boron and europium co-doped BiVO4 synthesized by sol-gel method for photodegradion of methyl orange. , 2013, Journal of hazardous materials.

[34]  Akihiko Kudo,et al.  Hydrothermal Synthesis of Nanofibrous Bismuth Vanadate , 2005 .

[35]  K. Mawatari,et al.  Nanostructured WO3 /BiVO4 photoanodes for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting. , 2014, Small.

[36]  Xiangping Zhang,et al.  Electrodeposition in Ionic Liquids. , 2016, Chemphyschem : a European journal of chemical physics and physical chemistry.

[37]  Jaya Pal,et al.  Faceted metal and metal oxide nanoparticles: design, fabrication and catalysis. , 2015, Nanoscale.

[38]  S. Yin,et al.  Cu2O/BiVO4 heterostructures: synthesis and application in simultaneous photocatalytic oxidation of organic dyes and reduction of Cr(VI) under visible light , 2014 .

[39]  Hao Sun,et al.  Enhanced removal of heavy metals from electroplating wastewater through electrocoagulation using carboxymethyl chitosan as corrosion inhibitor for steel anode , 2018 .

[40]  Yaocai Bai,et al.  Surface Engineering of Nanostructured Energy Materials , 2018, Advanced materials.

[41]  A. Saeed,et al.  Removal and recovery of heavy metals from aqueous solution using papaya wood as a new biosorbent , 2005 .

[42]  F. Ji,et al.  Synthesis of carbon-doped nanosheets m-BiVO4 with three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical structure by one-step hydrothermal method and evaluation of their high visible-light photocatalytic property , 2017, Journal of Nanoparticle Research.

[43]  S. Suib,et al.  Hydrothermal Synthesis of Structure‐ and Shape‐Controlled Manganese Oxide Octahedral Molecular Sieve Nanomaterials , 2006 .

[44]  Jian Gong,et al.  Preparation and formation mechanism of different α-Fe2O3 morphologies from snowflake to paired microplates, dumbbell, and spindle microstructures , 2007 .

[45]  D. Mohan,et al.  Removal of Hexavalent Chromium from Aqueous Solution Using Low-Cost Activated Carbons Derived from Agricultural Waste Materials and Activated Carbon Fabric Cloth , 2005 .

[46]  Peixiang Cai,et al.  Simultaneous photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and oxidation of phenol over monoclinic BiVO4 under visible light irradiation. , 2006, Chemosphere.

[47]  Aron Walsh,et al.  Band Edge Electronic Structure of BiVO4: Elucidating the Role of the Bi s and V d Orbitals , 2009 .

[48]  M. Zahmakiran,et al.  Palladium nanoparticles supported on amine-functionalized SiO2 for the catalytic hexavalent chromium reduction , 2016 .

[49]  G. Rujijanagul,et al.  Fabrication of g-C3N4 and a promising charcoal property towards enhanced chromium(VI) reduction and wastewater treatment under visible light. , 2018, Chemosphere.

[50]  Hui Huang,et al.  Carbon quantum dots enhance the photocatalytic performance of BiVO4 with different exposed facets. , 2013, Dalton transactions.

[51]  G. Zeng,et al.  Highly efficient photocatalytic activity and mechanism of Yb3+/Tm3+ codoped In2S3 from ultraviolet to near infrared light towards chromium (VI) reduction and rhodamine B oxydative degradation , 2018, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental.

[52]  L. Mädler,et al.  Flame preparation of visible-light-responsive BiVO4 oxygen evolution photocatalysts with subsequent activation via aqueous route. , 2011, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[53]  Xiang Gao,et al.  A shuriken-shaped m-BiVO4/{0 0 1}–TiO2 heterojunction: Synthesis, structure and enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity , 2016 .

[54]  Yan Sun,et al.  Controllable one-pot synthesis of a nest-like Bi2WO6/BiVO4 composite with enhanced photocatalytic antifouling performance under visible light irradiation. , 2016, Dalton transactions.

[55]  Z. Zou,et al.  BiVO4 nano–leaves: Mild synthesis and improved photocatalytic activity for O2 production under visible light irradiation , 2011 .

[56]  L. Jing,et al.  Effective visible-excited charge separation in silicate-bridged ZnO/BiVO4 nanocomposite and its contribution to enhanced photocatalytic activity. , 2014, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[57]  Lyubov V. Titova,et al.  High Light Absorption and Charge Separation Efficiency at Low Applied Voltage from Sb-Doped SnO2/BiVO4 Core/Shell Nanorod-Array Photoanodes. , 2016, Nano letters.

[58]  K. Bani-Melhem,et al.  Heavy metal ions removal from metal plating wastewater using electrocoagulation: Kinetic study and process performance , 2015 .

[59]  R. Amal,et al.  Water Splitting and CO2 Reduction under Visible Light Irradiation Using Z-Scheme Systems Consisting of Metal Sulfides, CoOx-Loaded BiVO4, and a Reduced Graphene Oxide Electron Mediator. , 2016, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[60]  T. Peng,et al.  Effects of hydrothermal temperature on the microstructures of BiVO(4) and its photocatalytic O(2) evolution activity under visible light. , 2009, Inorganic chemistry.

[61]  Wenzhong Wang,et al.  Efficient methylene blue removal over hydrothermally synthesized starlike BiVO4 , 2009 .

[62]  Raymond K. Rasheed,et al.  Deep eutectic solvents formed between choline chloride and carboxylic acids: versatile alternatives to ionic liquids. , 2004, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[63]  S. Obregón,et al.  Hydrothermal synthesis of BiVO4: Structural and morphological influence on the photocatalytic activity , 2012 .

[64]  Q. Zhong,et al.  Controllable synthesis of 3D BiVO₄ superstructures with visible-light-induced photocatalytic oxidation of NO in the gas phase and mechanistic analysis. , 2015, Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP.

[65]  M. Oshikiri,et al.  Electronic structures of promising photocatalysts InMO4 (M=V, Nb, Ta) and BiVO4 for water decomposition in the visible wavelength region , 2002 .

[66]  Lisha Zhang,et al.  Single-Crystalline BiVO4 Microtubes with Square Cross-Sections: Microstructure, Growth Mechanism, and Photocatalytic Property , 2007 .

[67]  G. Fu,et al.  Arginine-assisted synthesis and catalytic properties of single-crystalline palladium tetrapods. , 2014, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[68]  Huijun Zhao,et al.  Microwave-assisted fabrication of nanoparticulate TiO(2) microspheres for synergistic photocatalytic removal of Cr(VI) and methyl orange. , 2014, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[69]  Dashu Chen,et al.  Construction of Pillared-Layer MOF as Efficient Visible-Light Photocatalysts for Aqueous Cr(VI) Reduction and Dye Degradation , 2017 .

[70]  Yi Xie,et al.  Electronic Supplementary Information Synthetic Loose-packed Monoclinic Bivo 4 Nanoellipsoids with Novel Multiresponses to Visible Light, Trace Gas and Temperature , 2022 .

[71]  A. D. Bokare,et al.  Enhanced photocatalytic reduction of chromium (VI) by Cu-doped TiO 2 under UV-A irradiation , 2018 .