Hydrothermal synthesis of size-controllable Yttrium Orthovanadate (YVO4) nanoparticles and its application in photocatalytic degradation of direct blue dye

Graphical abstract: XRD patterns of YVO4 nanopowders prepared at different hydrothermal times; where Y1 = 4 h, Y2 = 8 h, Y3 = 12 h and Y4 = 24 h. Highlights: ► Size control of Yttrium Orthovanadate. ► Hydrothermal synthesis. ► Removal of direct blue dye. - Abstract: Sized-controlled YVO4 nanoparticles have been synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method by changing hydrothermal time from 4 to 24 h. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), specific surface area (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET)), and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis) measurements. The results showed that the size of as-synthesized YVO4 nanoparticles was in the range of 11–40 nm and was extremely dependent on the hydrothermal time. Photocatalytic measurement showed that the YVO4 nanoparticles with particle size of about 11 nm (prepared by 4 h hydrothermal time) possess superior photocatalytic properties in the decolorization of direct blue dye. Due to simple preparation, high photocatalytic oxidation of direct blue dye and low cost, the YVO4 photocatalyst is a potential candidate for pollutants removal and will find wide application in the coming future in photocatalytic oxidation processes. The overall kinetics of photodegradation of direct blue dye using YVO4 nanopowders photocatalyst was found to be of first order. The photocatalyst could be easily removed from the reaction mixture and its recyclability with no loss of activity was possible for six times. The catalytic performance was found to decrease by 5% after run number six.