Cocatalyst free Z-schematic enhanced H2 evolution over LaVO4/BiVO4 composite photocatalyst using Ag as an electron mediator

Veldurthi, NK and Eswar, NK and Singh, SA and Madras, G (2018) Cocatalyst free Z-schematic enhanced H2 evolution over LaVO4/BiVO4 composite photocatalyst using Ag as an electron mediator. In: Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 220 . pp. 512-523.

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Abstract

A novel cocatalyst free Z-schematic photocatalytic system of Ag/LaVO4/BiVO4 was successfully fabricated for clean hydrogen fuel evolution. The spherical nanoparticles of LaVO4 were prepared in solution combustion method for the first time using glycine as a fuel, BiVO4 was deposited onto LaVO4 through a deposition–precipitation method and Ag was loaded on the surface of LaVO4/BiVO4 composite by photoreduction method. The composites were characterized by XRD, UV–vis DRS, SEM, TEM, EDS and XPS to ensure the successful integration of Ag or (and) BiVO4 with LaVO4. A series of photocatalytic H2 evolution experiments, employing Na2S and Na2SO3 as hole scavengers, showed that the Ag/LaVO4/BiVO4 composite exhibited a superior photocatalytic performance compared to single LaVO4 or BiVO4. Although BiVO4 cannot be used for H2 evolution, it can significantly enhance the H2 evolution performance of LaVO4 through a Z-scheme mechanism with Ag as an electron mediator. Moreover, investigations on photoluminescence and fluorescence lifetime measurements demonstrated the greater separation efficacy of photoinduced excitons in the Z-scheme Ag/LaVO4/BiVO4 photocatalytic system. This newly constructed LaVO4 based Z-scheme system exhibits promising photocatalytic H2 evolution activity with significant longevity and will be useful for potential applications in energy driven technologies.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
Publisher:	Elsevier B.V.
Additional Information:	The copyright for this article belongs to the Elsevier B.V.
Keywords:	Amino acids; Precipitation (chemical), Cocatalyst; H2 evolution; LaVO4/BiVO4; Redox mediators; Z-scheme, Silver
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Chemical Engineering Division of Interdisciplinary Sciences > Centre for Nano Science and Engineering
Date Deposited:	03 Aug 2022 09:11
Last Modified:	03 Aug 2022 09:11
URI:	https://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/75254

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