Degradation of rhodamine B under visible-light with nanotubular Ag@AgCl@AgI photocatalysts

Publication date: Available online 13 October 2019Source: Catalysis TodayAuthor(s): Jun-Qi Xiao, Ndumiso Vukile Mdlovu, Kuen-Song Lin, Zong-Wei ChenAbstractIn the current study, heterostructured Ag@AgCl@AgI nanotubes were synthesized via an anion-exchange reaction between Ag@AgCl nanotubes and I− anions. Moreover, their photocatalytic performance towards the decontamination of dye contaminants were examined. These prepared photocatalysts were accordingly characterized using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM), XRPD, XPS, field-emission transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The structural identification analyses confirmed that the photocatalysts had nanotubular morphology. Compared to polyhedral Ag@AgI nanocomposites, the amalgamation of I− ions into the Ag@AgCl framework extraordinarily improved the photocatalytic performance. The synthesized Ag@AgCl@AgI nanotubes can also be reused due to their high stability. Under visible-light irradiation,>91.8% of Rhodamine B (RhB) was degraded within 45 min using the catalyst AI–2 (Cl−/I− = 1:1). The radical trap experiments indicated that the photodegradation of RhB was driven by the participation of superoxide radical and the action of holes. Due to the surface plasmon resonance effect, the photocatalyst AI–2 demonstrated higher photocatalytic performance, enhanced surface area and photoelectron transfer, which is also ascribed to its unique heterostruc...
Source: Catalysis Today - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research