Synthesis and characterization of BiVO4/Cu2O photocatalyst by high energy ball milling

In this research,BiVO4/5wt.%Cu2O nanocomposite was prepared by high energy ball-milling of bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), vanadiumoxide (V2O5) and copper oxide (Cu2O). The samples were synthesized using balls to powder ratio of 20:1 after 10h milling time. Then, to complete the production process, the sample washeat treated at 500˚C for 1 h. The product was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD),field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and UV-diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) techniques.From the XRD results, themonoclinic BiVO4 was formed for the annealed 10h ball milled sample.Detected Bi2O3phase in 10h ball milled sample showed that the reaction was incomplete. Also the Cu2O peaks were so weak in the results. The heavy agglomerations observed in FESEM image of 10 h milled sample and the particle size was reduced by annealing process. Porous structure was obtained for the annealed 10h ball-milled sample. The band gap was measured to be 1.9 eV for the annealed 10h ball milled sample.

Keywords:

BiVO4 , Cu2O , Photocatalyst , Ball-milling.