Abstract
In this study, the reaction mechanisms of metal-semiconductor composites used as photocatalysts were demonstrated by first preparing bismuth vanadate (BiVO(4)) and then performing photodeposition of metal nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activity of metal-BiVO(4) (M-BiVO(4), where M = Pt, Au, Ag) composites were evaluated through dye decomposition under UV-vis irradiation. The photocatalytic efficiency was significantly enhanced after Pt deposition as compared to other M-BiVO(4) composites. The size or shape of BiVO(4) was not the main factor for the efficiency of Pt-BiVO(4). However, a deposited Pt co-catalyst was essential for the photocatalytic decomposition of dye on the BiVO(4) surface. Radical scavengers were employed to elucidate the reaction mechanism during the photocatalytic reaction with the Pt-BiVO(4) composite. This study provides details on the reaction mechanism of the photocatalytic reaction on Pt at the BiVO(4) surface under solar irradiation.