Large scale, monodispersed octahedral BiVO4 microcrystals, photostability and water oxidation thereof

A method of preparing bismuth vanadate particles, the method comprising:

• mixing a bismuth (III) salt and an acidic aqueous solution to form a bismuth mixture;
• mixing a metavanadate salt and a basic aqueous solution to form a vanadate mixture;
• mixing the vanadate mixture and the bismuth mixture to form a reaction mixture that is simultaneously subjected to ultrasonication;
• and
• hydrothermally treating the reaction mixture thereby forming the bismuth vanadate particles,
• wherein:
• the bismuth vanadate particles have an octahedral shape;
• and
• the bismuth vanadate particles comprise crystalline BiVO4 having a tetragonal crystal symmetry.