Preparation and photocatalytic properties of Mo-doped BiVO₄

Mo-doped BiVO₄ microcrystals with tetragonal structures were prepared by a hydrothermal method. The phase transformation from monoclinic to tetragonal was observed as the concentration of molybdenum ions increased up to 10 mol%. Accordingly, the morphology of the as-preparation samples evolved from plate-shaped (molybdenum-free BiVO₄) to pie-like (BiVO₄:Mo). The photocatalytic activity of BiVO₄:Mo with a tetragonal structure was much higher than that of the pure BiVO₄ host with a monoclinic phase by using RhB as the simulated pollutants under sun-like irradiation. The degradation rate of RhB was increased from 40% with molybdenum-free BiVO₄ to 97.8% with the Mo-doped BiVO₄ materials.