Influence of Ag Doping on the Crystal Structure and Photocatalytic Activity of FeVO4
Silver (Ag+) doped iron (III) vanadate (FeVO4) samples are prepared by the precipitation method and then characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS). The photocatalytic activity under visible light is evaluated by photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) in the solution. The results show that both FeVO4 and Ag+ doped FeVO4 samples are triclinic, the later have different surface morphology, and some needle-shaped materials appear in the later. From XPS, there are more Fe2+ ions in Ag+ doped FeVO4 sample than that in FeVO4 one without Ag+. It indicates that Ag+ doping can increase the density of the surface oxygen vacancies of catalysts, which can act as electron traps promoting the electron-hole separation and then increase the photo-activity. The decoloration rate after Ag+ doping against methyl orange solution can reach about 81%, and be more about 20% than that of pure FeVO4.