Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of cube-like Ag-Ag2MoO4 with visible-light photocatalytic activity

Cube-like Ag-Ag2MoO4 composite has been successfully prepared in the presence of PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone) via a facile microwave-assisted hydrothermal process. Studies of its photocatalytic performance in the decomposition of RhB indicate that the cube-like Ag-Ag2MoO4 composite exhibits good catalytic activities under visible-light irradiation. The face that Ag promotes the absorption of visible light may be attributed to the surface plasmon resonance. Further XRD characterization after recycle photocatalytic tests confirms that partial Ag+ ions in Ag2MoO4 have been reduced to metallic Ag. Reaction temperature, reaction time and the amount of PVP have also been studied and found to play crucial roles in the formation of the cube-like microstructures.