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In order to enhance the performance of bismuth vanadium oxide (Bi4V2O11) we synthesized La doped Bi4V2O11 in different concentrations (La = 5%, 10%, 15%) by using sol-gel method. The nanoparticles are stabilized in tetragonal phase in the range of 50 nm particle size. With the help of XPS it was confirmed that in La/Bi4V2O11 lattice La is in 3+ oxidation state and replaces Bi3+ in the lattice. SEM and EDX show the amorphous nature and chemical compositions of the nanoparticles. The structural analysis and energy calculations revealed that La3+ ion replaces Bi3+ in Bi4V2O11 lattice without disturbing its host structure. The PL results revealed that photogenerated charges recombination was significantly reduced. The photocatalytic degradation of MB under visible light illumination is performed and the best photocatalytic activity among various compositions of La/Bi4V2O11 is shown by 15% La/Bi4V2O11 nanoparticles. 15% La/Bi4V2O11 photocatalyst show 98% of degradation of MB in 120 mins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current research, BiVO4 samples of co-doped copper and iron (Cu/Fe–BiVO4) were synthesized using the gel combustion technique. The synthesized preparations for the degradation of phenol with visible light radiation were used as a photocatalyst. Synthesized samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In order to determined the particle size XRD and TEM plays an important role which was calculated in the range of 22–30 nm. Morphology of the samples were revealed by SEM. A comparison of the kinetics of photocatalytic degradation of phenol by Cu/Fe–BiVO4 was performed under visible light. The XRD patterns show the various phases of the synthesized samples. The Cu/Fe–BiVO4 sample has higher photocatalytic activity as compared to parent BiVO4. For phenol degradation under visible light radiation, the degradation mechanism was suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]