Strategic engineering of BiVO4 photocatalysts for efficient Solar-Driven systems: Advances, Limitations, and future prospects

Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) is demonstrated as a potential visible-light-sensitive photo-catalyst due to its environmental tolerance, chemical stability, and appropriate band gap. Nonetheless, the practical efficiency in solar-driven applications is notably constrained by elements such as swift charge carrier recombination, limited surface area, and inadequate conductivity. This review rigorously analyses the latest advancements in strategies utilized to modify the physicochemical characteristics of BiVO4 in order to address these inherent challenges. This study examines key modification tactics, including elemental doping, heterojunction engineering, morphological control, and co-catalyst integration, to understand their influence on photocatalytic efficiency. Additionally, the review emphasizes novel methodologies including defect engineering which present innovative pathways for improving photoactivity. Addressing challenges associated with scalability, long-term stability, and mechanistic understanding has also been comprised, as well as exploring future perspectives for optimizing BiVO4-based systems in water splitting, CO2 reduction, and water treatment. This detailed analysis aims to inform the systematic design and advancement of BiVO4 catalysts for efficient solar energy conversion in a sustainable way.