Effect of polymer additives on photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical properties of BiVO₄ prepared from aqueous metal-chelate solution

Abstract Bismuth vanadate (BiVO 4 ) is a promising semiconductor for O 2 production as photocatalyst/photoanode due to its suitable band gap (2.4 eV) absorption of the solar spectrum. Nevertheless, it challenging develop an applicable preparation process size and crystallinity-controllable BiVO photocatalysts/photoanodes. Here, we report innovative method introducing aqueous metal-chelate solution containing Bi 3+ V 5+ , appropriate chelators, water-soluble polymer obtain nanoparticulate photocatalysts/photoanodes with efficient photo-oxidation performances under visible-light irradiation. The structural characteristics photocatalytic particles/photoelectrodes obtained were changed by kind polymer, even prepared same process.