Synthesis of visible light active copper, iron co-doped BiVO4 photocatalyst for the degradation of phenol

In the current research, BiVO4 samples of co-doped copper and iron (Cu/Fe-BiVO4) were synthesized using the gel combustion technique. The synthesized preparations for the degradation of phenol with visible light radiation were used as a photocatalyst. Synthesized samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In order to determined the particle size XRD and TEM plays an important role which was calculated in the range of 22-30 nm. Morphology of the samples were revealed by SEM. A comparison of the kinetics of photocatalytic degradation of phenol by Cu/Fe-BiVO(4)was performed under visible light. The XRD patterns show the various phases of the synthesized samples. The Cu/Fe-BiVO(4)sample has higher photocatalytic activity as compared to parent BiVO4. For phenol degradation under visible light radiation, the degradation mechanism was suggested.