Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Vol.116, 142-158, December, 2022
Ultrasound-promoted hydrothermal design of Ag-AgVO3/CeO2 nanobelt/nanosphere heterostructure for highly efficacious sunlight induced treatment of dye effluent
In present study, the novel 1D nanobelt-on-0D nanosphere heterostructured Ag-decorated AgVO3/CeO2 photocatalysts as pseudo-type II interface were successfully synthesized at 1:3, 1:1 and 3:1 mass ratios of AgVO3:CeO2 through the ultrasound-promoted hydrothermal design and their photocatalytic performance has been investigated in the degradation of crystal violet (CV) under simulated solar light. Several analyses such as XRD, TPR, FESEM, BET-BJH, UV–vis DRS and PL were applied. The highest photocatalytic activity with 92.4% removal and 0.0238 min-1 constant rate for CV after 120 min irradiation was obtained over Ag-AgVO3/CeO2 (1:1)-SH. It could be devoted to form a heterostructure between CeO2 nanosphere particles anchored with AgVO3 nanobelts, confirming by DRS results (two band gaps: 2.39 and 2.87 eV); the interaction between phases and well dispersion of CeO2 nanoparticles, proving via TPR analysis; well light harvesting, extending visible light absorption and surface plasmon resonance feature; reducing charge carriers recombination via forming the pseudo-type II. Besides, positive effect of the ultrasound energy was proved. So that, in the sample synthesized without sonication, the final efficiency (78.2%) and initial constant rate (0.0121 min-1) decreased substantially. Moreover, scavenger tests indicated in order the prominent role of holes, ●O2 – and ●OH radicals as active species.
Keywords:Ag-Decorated AgVO3/CeO2;Nanoheterojunction Photocatalyst;Ultrasound-Promoted Hydrothermal;Hetero-photocatalytic Degradation;Dye Solution Treatment