Effect of pH on the synthesis of BiVO4 to improve photocatalysis and antimicrobial properties

The present work deals with studies of the obtaining structures Monoclinic Scheelita (MS) and Tetragonal Zirconia (TZ) of BiVO4 through an experimental procedure. First, the characterization of the samples evaluates their structural and electronic properties. Then, from the analysis of X-ray diffraction (XRD) for pH 1, occurs the formation of the TZ phase, which with higher processing times, occurs the transformation to the MS phase, different from the pH 5 at which the MS phase was formed, with higher processing times, occurs a formation of a second phase (TZ). The temperature, pressure, and pH values of the hydrothermal treatment contribute to the organization of the crystalline system. For the solar photocatalysis and microbial tests, the MS phase presented the best results because it has a higher absorption in the visible phase, defined morphologies, and low bandgap values.