Structural, photophysical and photocatalytic properties of novel Bi2AlVO7.

Bi(2)AlVO(7) was prepared by solid-state reaction technique for the first time and the structural and photocatalytic properties of Bi(2)AlVO(7) and Bi(2)InTaO(7) were investigated. The results showed that Bi(2)AlVO(7) crystallized in the tetragonal crystal system with space group I4/mmm. In addition, the band gaps of Bi(2)AlVO(7) and Bi(2)InTaO(7) were estimated to be about 2.06 and 2.81 eV. The photocatalytic degradation of aqueous methylene blue (MB) dye with Bi(2)AlVO(7) or Bi(2)InTaO(7) as catalyst was investigated under visible light irradiation. Bi(2)AlVO(7) showed higher photocatalytic activity compared with Bi(2)InTaO(7) for photocatalytic degradation of MB under visible light irradiation. Complete removal of aqueous MB dye was realized after visible light irradiation for 160 min with Bi(2)AlVO(7) as the photocatalyst. The reduction of the total organic carbon (TOC) and the formation of inorganic products, SO(4)(2-) and NO(3)(-) revealed the continuous mineralization of aqueous MB dye during the photocatalytic process. The possible photocatalytic degradation pathway of aqueous MB dye was revealed under visible light irradiation.