Enhancing effect of NaYF4: Yb, Tm on the photocatalytic performance of BiVO4 under NIR and full spectrum

In this study, NaYF4: Yb, Tm@BiVO4 core–shell composites, and NaYF4: Yb, Tm/BiVO4 mixture were synthesized. In this study, we compared the degradation rates of MB by two different materials under two light conditions through photocatalytic degradation experiments. The results concluded that the degradation rates of the composites and mixture materials were 41 and 32% for 2 h under NIR light and 99 and 96% for 2 h under the full spectrum, respectively. Upconversion material NaYF4: Yb, Tm, under the excitation of NIR light, the emitted ultraviolet visible emission light and excitation energy level will be transferred to BiVO4 photocatalyst through emission reabsorption and FRET process. This results in a significant improvement in the degradation performance of the photocatalyst under full-spectrum light.