Synthesis of BiPO4/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites with enhanced photocatalytic performances

The BiPO4/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposites were prepared by a facile solvothermal approach. The prepared samples were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectra, and Mott-Schottky and the photoluminescence spectra. A large quantity of BiPO4 nanoparticles with sizes of ca. 150 nm were well dispersed on the RGO nanosheets. The absorbance of the BiPO4/RGO nanocomposites is largely enhanced in the range of 400-800 nm compared with that of BiPO4, and the BiPO4/RGO showed better photocatalytic activities under simulated sunlight irradiation than the BiPO4 nanocrystals.