Controlling crystallization and morphologies of monoclinic bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) dendrite with enhanced photocatalytic activities

The monoclinic BiVO4 dendrites constructed by Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) branches with average diameters of about 100 nm have been successfully fabricated by Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) assistant hydrothermal process. The monoclinic BiVO4 dendrites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The monoclinic BiVO4 dendrites have uniform branches and the branches were transformed from the aggregated monoclinic BiVO4 nanoparticles through the Ostwald ripening process. The monoclinic BiVO4 dendrites show high efficient photocatalytic activities in decomposition of methyl orange.   Key words: Controlling crystallization, hierarchical structures, bismuth vanadate dendrites.