20.500.12556/RUL-172572 Elucidating semiconducting properties and photocatalytic performance of surface-decorated ▫$BiVO_4$▫ for the removal of contaminants of emerging concern Photocatalysis has been shown to be a promising and ecofriendly approach to the removal of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). However, preventing the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers and achievement of suitable band edge positions are still major challenges to ensuring better performance. Herein, we report the preparation of surface-decorated BiVO$_4$ with both a noble metal (Ag) and transition metal (Fe). The structural, morphological, and semiconducting features of the material were examined employing various techniques (XRD, SEM, UV-DRS, PL, and photoelectrochemical tests). The band gap of surface-modified BiVO$_4$ is slightly narrower compared to pristine material, which is further validated by HOMO-LUMO gaps obtained through theoretical modeling approaches. The recombination of photogenerated charges was successfully reduced in the case of Ag–Fe–BiVO$_4$, as proven by lower PL intensity and increased current density. The comparative photocatalytic degradation of the CECs ciprofloxacin (CIP) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was conducted employing pristine BiVO$_4$ and its two surface-modified analogues (Ag–BiVO$_4$, and Ag–Fe–BiVO$_4$) under solar light. Ag–Fe–BiVO$_4$ was shown to be the most efficient; however, its effectiveness differed depending on CEC type. Under the same process conditions, degradation of CIP reached 93.9%, while PFOA was degraded only partially (22.9%). bismuth vanadate suface decoration semiconducting properties solar photocatalysis contaminants of emerging concern bizmutov vanadat modifikacija površine lastnosti polprevodnikov sončna fotokataliza onesnaževala ki povzročajo zaskrbljenost true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Članek v reviji 2025-09-09 08:45:13 2025-09-09 08:45:14 2025-09-10 04:19:24 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2025 0 0 18 str. iss. 11, art. 2454 Vol. 30 Jun. 2025 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 544.526.5:661.718.33 1420-3049 10.3390/molecules30112454 247020035 molecules-30-02454-v2.pdf molecules-30-02454-v2.pdf 1 97A7B00E962588237BF9601F16393E24 016f3895d6c7c47c0530a911e2d197a5f7065122f7139ad932799a9ad7fc3dd6 81b4b3bc-8d4a-11f0-9328-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=216438 https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/11/2454 1 6276220f-8d48-11f0-9328-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=216433 Fakulteta za kemijo in kemijsko tehnologijo 0 0 0