Preparation and Property of Visible―light―driven InVO4/MWCNTs Photocatalyst for Benzene Decomposition

InVO4/MWCNTs photocatalyst was synthesized by a hydrothermal method using acid―treated multi― walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a support. The prepared InVO4/MWCNTs photocatalyst was examined by X―ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE―SEM), Brunauer―Emmett―Teller (BET) nitrogen adsorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV―Vis diffuse reflectance spectrum (UV―Vis DRS). The photocatalytic activity of the as―prepared samples was determined by the degradation of gas―phase benzene under visible light (λ>420 nm) irradiation. The results show that the InVO4 particles are uniformly anchored on the surface of MWCNTs with average size of 100 nm. The specific surface area and the optical absorption of InVO4/MWCNTs are remarkably improved, as compared with that of the pure InVO4. After photocatalytic oxidation for 4h, the conversion rate of benzene over the InVO4/MWCNTs is 41.0%, which is 1.5 times as much as that of the InVO4 or 3 times greater than that of the N―doped TiO2, respectively. Simultaneously, the mineralization rate of benzene on the InVO4/MWCNTs is 43.4%. The enhanced photocatalytic performance of the InVO4/MWCNTs is related to the excellent electron―transporting properties of the MWCNTs, which acts as a trap for photogenerated electron.