Enhancing the visible-light-induced photocatalytic activity of AgNbO3 by loading Ag@AgCl nanoparticles

Abstract

A new visible-light-driven plasmonic photocatalyst Ag@AgCl/AgNbO₃ is prepared via loading with Ag@AgCl nanoparticles by an impregnating precipitation photoreduction method. The physical and chemical properties of catalysts are characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and UV-Visible diffusion reflectance spectra. In comparison with pristine AgNbO₃, Ag@AgCl/AgNbO₃ exhibits a high visible-light-induced photocatalytic activity for degradation of methylene blue. Moreover, the photocatalytic mechanism is also discussed. The photoexcited electrons on the surface of the silver nanoparticles are injected due to surface plasmon resonance, and formed radical groups (O₂⁻,·HOO, ·OH and Cl⁰), which enhanced the photocatalytic activity of Ag@AgCl/AgNbO₃ in visible-light.