Versatile application of BiVO₄/TiO₂ S-scheme photocatalyst: Photocatalytic CO₂ and Cr(VI) reduction

Herein, the synthesis, characterization, and reduction properties of 2D TiO₂ aerogel powder decorated with BiVO₄ (TiO₂/BiVO₄) were investigated for versatile applications. First, 2D TiO₂ was prepared via lyophilization and subsequently modified with BiVO₄ using a wet impregnation method. The morphology, structure, composition, and optical properties were evaluated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), respectively. Significantly enhanced photocurrent densities (by 3–15 times) were obtained for TiO₂/BiVO₄ compared to those of pure TiO₂ and BiVO₄. The reduction of toxic Cr(VI) to Cr(III) was assessed, including the effect of pH on overall photocatalytic efficiency. Under acidic conditions (pH ∼ 2), Cr(VI) reduction efficiency reached 100% within 2 h. For photocatalytic CO₂ reduction, the highest yields of CH₄ and CO were obtained using TiO₂/BiVO₄. A higher efficiency for both applications was achieved because of the better separation of the electron-hole pairs in TiO₂/BiVO₄. The excellent stability of TiO₂/BiVO₄ over repeated runs highlights its potential for use in versatile environmental applications. The efficiency of TiO₂/BiVO₄ is due to the interplay of the structure, morphology, composition, and photoelectrochemical properties that favour the material for the presented herein photocatalytic applications.