Three-dimensional hierarchical Ag/AgI/BiOI microspheres with high visible-light photocatalytic activity

摘要

Three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical Ag/AgI/BiOI microspheres were prepared by microwave-assisted solvethermal process and subsequently in situ photo-assisted reduction approach. A reactive ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium iodine([Bmim]I) was employed as I source in the presence of surfactant polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The scanning electron microscope(SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations revealed that the obtained Ag/AgI/BiOI had three-dimensional hierarchical frameworks assembled by nanoflakes. Nitrogen sorption analysis showed that the Ag/Agl/BiOI micro-spheres exhibited a large Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface area of 73.63 m~2/g. The obtained Ag/AgI/BiOI showed excellent photocatalytic activity for the decomposition of methylene blue (MB) and o-nitrophenol (OPN) under visible light irridiation, which can be ascribed to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect caused by the silver nanoparticles present in the composite photocatalyst