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.
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.