Nanostructured shuriken-like BiVO4 with preferentially exposed {010} facets: preparation, formation mechanism, and enhanced photocatalytic performance

Nanostructured shuriken-like monoclinic scheelite phase BiVO4 (mBiVO(4)) with preferentially exposed {010} facets was synthesized by a solvothermal process in a glycerol (Gly)/water mixed solvent using ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid disodium (EDTA) as the structure-directing agent. EDTA competes with Gly to control the kind and concentration of reaction species in the system, and thereby the preferential growth of mBiVO(4) nanocrystals along the {010} facets as well as formation of a shuriken-like morphology can take place at the same time. The formation mechanism of products with different microstructures is proposed. The optimized mBiVO(4) photocatalyst obtained using 0.4 mmol EDTA exhibited highest photocatalytic activity for methylene blue (MB) degradation, which could be attributed to the highest exposure degree of the active {010} facets, as well as the shuriken-like nanostructure, which enhanced the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes.