Planetary ball milling induced piezocatalysis for dye degradation using Bi₂VO_5.5

Abstract

The mechanochemical ball milling process at 650°C for 5 h formed the single‐phase Bi₂VO_5.5 powder, which was tested as a catalyst for methylene blue (MB) dye degradation. X‐ray diffraction validated phase formation. A scanning electron microscope inspection verified the presence of grains with irregular shapes. Piezocatalytic MB dye degradation with a .4 g BV sample was ∼67% after 90 min in a ball mill and ∼49% after 180 min in an ultrasonicator. Utilizing a .4 g BV sample, the 90‐min investigation of piezocatalysis using a ball mill showed an 18% increase in degrading performance compared to the findings of the 180‐min study of piezocatalysis using ultrasonication. Ball mill employed piezocatalysis evaluation utilizing .4 g Bi₂VO_5.5 with 15 balls produces an excellent k value of .0109 min⁻¹. Based on the results of a scavenger test, hole (h⁺) is the primary species in the ball mill‐induced piezocatalysis.