LAUSR

Abstract Bismuth vanadate compounds have attracted increasing attention as visible-light-driven photocatalysts. While a number of methods have been used to synthesize bismuth vanadate compounds, the synthesis of Bi 25 VO 40 nanowires has not been reported. Here, we report a facile method to synthesize Bi 25 VO 40 nanowires for the first time. Bi 25 VO 40 nanowires were obtained by annealing vanadium deposited α-Bi 2 O 3 nanowires under different ambient (oxygen, vacuum, and argon). It was found that the annealing ambient significantly affect the phase purity and formation of the Bi 25 VO 40 nanowires. Near-stoichiometric single crystal Bi 25 VO 40 nanowires can be synthesized under Ar annealing. Moreover, the Bi 25 VO 40 nanowires exhibit visible light emission and high visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity.