Issue 2, 2016

Facile synthesis of Ag/ZnO micro-flowers and their improved ultraviolet and visible light photocatalytic activity

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) flower-like Ag/ZnO heterostructures with different Ag content were prepared using a facile two-step method. The samples structure, morphology and optical properties were well-characterized using XRD, SEM, EDS, XPS, DRS, PL and ICP-AES techniques. The results demonstrated the successful deposition of Ag nanoparticles on a flower-like ZnO surface. The photocatalytic performance was evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under ultraviolet and visible light. The results showed that the Ag/ZnO heterostructures had superior photocatalytic activity compared to the pure ZnO samples and the commercial photocatalyst TiO2 (Degussa, P25). The enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to the effective separation of electron/hole pairs on flower-like ZnO by employing Ag nanoparticles as a conductor. Furthermore, 3D flower-like Ag/ZnO microspheres exhibited good recycling stabilities over several separation cycles photodegradation.

Graphical abstract: Facile synthesis of Ag/ZnO micro-flowers and their improved ultraviolet and visible light photocatalytic activity

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
07 Sep 2015
Accepted
24 Nov 2015
First published
30 Nov 2015

New J. Chem., 2016,40, 1587-1594

Author version available

Facile synthesis of Ag/ZnO micro-flowers and their improved ultraviolet and visible light photocatalytic activity

Y. Liang, N. Guo, L. Li, R. Li, G. Ji and S. Gan, New J. Chem., 2016, 40, 1587 DOI: 10.1039/C5NJ02388B

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