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.