•A facile approach to synthesize ultrafine Ag3PO4 nanoparticles as small as 2.6 nm.•The ultrafine Ag3PO4 loaded TiO2-OV exhibit a high photocatalytic activity.•A visible-light-driven direct Z-scheme system formed on Ag3PO4/TiO2-OV.Despite high activity for photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes from water, nanoscale Ag3PO4 photocatalyst particles are difficult to synthesize. As reported in literature, Ag3PO4 particle sizes for photocatalytic degradation of water pollutants are normally larger than 100 nm. This research reports a facile and reproducible method for the synthesis of the ultrafine and uniform Ag3PO4 nanoparticles loaded on the oxygen vacated TiO2 (TiO2-OV) with average particle size as small as 2.6 nm. All obtained Ag3PO4 particles can be completely loaded onto TiO2-OV support to form Ag3PO4/TiO2-OV composite photocatalysts. The prepared Ag3PO4/TiO2-OV photocatalyst exhibits much higher visible light photocatalytic activity than those of pure Ag3PO4 or Ag3PO4/TiO2 photocatalysts for the degradation of rhodamine b (Rh B) and phenol in water. After depositing thin layers of AgI on Ag3PO4 ultrafine Ag3PO4 nanoparticles, the new AgI-Ag3PO4/TiO2-OV composite photocatalysts not only show much higher photocatalytic activity, but they are also more stable than pure Ag3PO4 catalyst. This new synthesis method will provide guidelines for the preparation of ultrafine nanoparticles and highly active photocatalysts for treatment of water pollution or production of hydrogen from water splitting/reducing.Download high-res image (190KB)Download full-size image

•Novel A- or B-sites substituted LaFeO3/silica fiber composites were prepared.•A CNFs template-assisted alcohol-thermal route was adopted.•The obtained materials work as efficient visible-light-driven photocatalysts.•Good stability was observed in the cyclic runs of photocatalytic reaction.Novel A- or B-sites substituted LaFeO3/silica fiber (SF) composites were prepared via a facile and efficient carbon nanofibers (CNFs) template-assisted alcohol-thermal route. The resulting samples were characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) apparatus, and ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Furthermore, their photocatalytic activities were evaluated by visible-light photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB). Compared with powder LaFeO3, the obtained A- or B-sites substituted LaFeO3/SF composites showed enhanced degradation efficiencies to MB dyes under the identical conditions. Good stability was also observed in the cyclic runs for the degradation of MB. The enhanced photocatalytic performance should be relent with the following two factors: 1) the unique morphology and structure of A- or B-sites substituted LaFeO3/SF composites, and 2) the contribution of the secondary element doping either in A- or B-sites of LaFeO3/SF. The synthetic procedure is simple and could be applicable to other efficient and inexpensive photocatalytic materials.

BiVO4 photocatalysts with tunable morphologies and macroscopic structures were successfully achieved by a facile combined alcohol-thermal and CNFs templates route, based on the adjustment of solvent composition. The phase structures, morphologies, and optical absorption properties of the as-prepared BiVO4 samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in detail. In addition, the results show that the photocatalytic activities of the as-prepared BiVO4 samples for the degradation of rhodamine B under visible-light irradiation are dependent on the solvent used in the synthesis. Note that the BiVO4 sample which derived from the mixture solvent (ethanol: EG=1:1, volumetric ratio), has the highest photocatalytic activity (up to 92% within 3 h), due to its fusiform-like morphology and macroscopic structure, better crystallization, relatively larger specific surface area, suitable band gap energy and good permeability.

•A facile method of LnVO4 (Ln = Ce, Nd, Gd) immobilization was developed.•A combined alcohol-thermal with carbon nanofiber template route was used.•The obtained materials work as efficient UV light driven photocatalysts.•This method might be applicable to other novel material fabrications.A facile immobilization method of LnVO4 (Ln = Ce, Nd, Gd) was designed for the first time, via a combined alcohol-thermal and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) template route. The physicochemical properties of the prepared samples were characterized in detail and their photocatalytic activities were evaluated via UV light photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB). The results show that the photocatalytic degradation of MB was pretty effective for the prepared LnVO4 (Ln = Ce, Nd, Gd) samples, and the photocatalytic degradation efficiencies follow the order: GdVO4 > CeVO4 > NdVO4. It is expected that such unique immobilized LnVO4 materials would possess many potential applications in photocatalysis.The immobilization of LnVO4 (Ln = Ce, Nd, Gd) on macroscopic silica fiber was designed and created for the first time, by a combined alcohol-thermal and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) template route. It is expected that such unique immobilized LnVO4 materials would possess many potential applications in photocatalysis.Download full-size image