Lignin-controlled photocatalyst of porous BiVO4-C nanocomposite for enhancing photocatalytic activity toward pollutant under visible-light.

• One-step hydrothermal for the synthetization of BiVO 4 -C nanocomposite. • Lignin was controlled the self-assembly process of BiVO 4. • The lignin was carbonized to porous carbon materials. • BiVO 4 -C nanocomposite showed the enhanced photocatalytic activity. Explorations of biomass materials have emerged as a novel strategy to control the synthesis of semiconductor and improve the photocatalytic performance. Here, a lignin-derived porous structure of BiVO 4 -C nanocomposite was prepared via one-step hydrothermal approach. In the preparation process, lignin not only effectively controlled the growth of BiVO 4 but also carbonized to form a porous structure of biochar-based semiconductor photocatalyst. The studies demonstrated that the BiVO 4 -C nanocomposite have enhanced photocatalytic activity due to the departure of electron-hole pairs and charge migration. These insights provided useful insight for the design of efficient biomass-based photocatalyst for environmental protection and green energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]