This project details a study on the modification of monoclinic BiVO4 photocatalyst with gold nanoparticles for the degradation of 4-chlorophenol. It adapts methodologies in the literature for the synthesis of thin film semiconductor photocatalyst electrodes and photoelectrochemical characterization techniques, including voltammetry and chronoamperometry, to compare BiVO4 modified with 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, and 4 wt% gold to its unmodified form. Additional parameters explored were the material of the counter electrode, the electrical potential bias, the spectra of illumination, and the addition of hydrogen peroxide. Analysis of data suggested that 2 wt% Au/BiVO4 was the most suitable thin film electrode for the degradation of 4-chlorophenol in a H2O2-Na2SO4 electrolyte.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Black, Andrew Paul

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042711-120319

Advisor

• Zhou, H Susan

Year

• 2011

Center

• Shanghai, China Project Center - MQP

Sponsor

• Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Date created

• 2011-04-27

Localização

• Shanghai

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Última modificação

• 2020-12-27