Abstract
In this study, a facile hydrothermal approach was used to fabricate novel TiO
2
/BiVO
4
composite photocatalysts with heterojunction architectures. The physical and photochemical properties of the as-prepared catalysts were multiple characterized using X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transforms infrared spectrometry, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectra, X-ray photon spectroscopy analysis, BET surface area analysis and photoluminescence technique. The photocatalytic performance was assessed by decolorizing methylene blue, methyl orange dye and their mixture solution under visible light irradiation. Compared with pure TiO
2
and BiVO
4
, the TiO
2
/BiVO
4
composites demonstrate greater photocatalytic activity. Enhanced photocatalytic activity is largely owed to the increased separation rate of photogenerated charge carriers.