Preparation of PrVO4 by Sol-Gel Method and Its Photocatalytic Activity.

Using Pr(NO₃)₃·6H₂O, NH₄VO₃ and C₆H₈O₇·H₂O as main raw materials, PrVO₄ was successfully prepared by sol-gel method. The structure and morphology of samples were characterized by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The effects of different synthesis temperature and light time on the photocatalytic activity of PrVO₄ samples were investigated using methyl orange solution as simulated sewage. The results show that PrVO₄ of pure tetragonal zircon structure can be prepared at calcination temperature of 600 °C ∼900 °C. PrVO₄ particles were relatively uniform with average grain size of 1 ∼ 3 μm. The photocatalytic activity of sample prepared at 800 °C was the best. After UV irradiation for 150 min, the degradation rate of 10 mg/L methyl orange is nearly 100% in presence of PrVO₄ sample prepared at 800 °C. The PrVO₄ showed excellent photocatalytic activity for degradation of methyl orange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]