A visible light-sensitive argentous oxide/calcium aluminate nanocomposite photocatalyst

Abstract

A photo-deposition method was developed to synthesise argentous oxide/calcium aluminate nanocomposites (Ag₂O-CAONCS) with orthorhombic Ca₅Al₆O₁₄ and cubic Ag₂O phases. Micro-morphology, micro-structure, optical, and visible-light catalytic properties were investigated via different techniques. Ag₂O enhances visible-light absorption performance and decreases the band gap of the Ag₂O-CAONCS. About 20 mL crystal violet (CV) dye (10 mgL^–1) is totally degraded using 20 mg Ag₂O-CAONCS under sunlight irradiation for 20 min. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the Ag₂O-CAONCS towards CV under sunlight irradiation is ascribed to the reduction of the band gap, improvement in visible-light absorption and inhibitation role of carriers recombination by Ag₂O. The high, stable visible-light catalytic activity makes Ag₂O-CAONCS promising photocatalysts for removing organic pollutants.

KEYWORDS:

• Calcium aluminate nanoflakes
• argentous oxide
• nanocomposites
• sunlight
• crystal violet
• photocatalyst

Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province of P. R. China (2008085ME172), the National Scholarship Fund of China Scholarship Council (CSC) (202008340046) and the Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program of Anhui Province of P. R. China (S202210360153).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province of P. R. China: [Grant Number 2008085ME172].