One-step synthesis of novel Ag/AgCl-glass with remarkably stable photocatalytic activity

Novel Ag/AgCl-glass was successfully synthesized via a one-step ion-exchange process. Various analytical techniques were implemented to characterize the Ag/AgCl-glass. The results reveal that Ag/AgCl nanoparticles have a reduced volume-filling fraction along the diffusion depth of Ag+ ions in the glass matrix and exhibit nearly spherical structure with diameter about 5-20 nm. The as-fabricated Ag/AgCl-glass presents high visible transmittance and remarkably stable photocatalytic activity for photodegradation of methyl orange under visible light irradiation. Moreover, the synthesis mechanism and photocatalytic mechanism of the Ag/AgCl-glass have been proposed. The Ag/AgCl nanoparticles are formed and distributed upon the nearsurface layer depth of glass matrix during ion-exchanged process. Significantly stable photocatalytic activity can be mainly attributed to effective transfer and separation of photo-generated electron-hole pairs in Ag/AgCl catalyst. Simultaneously, Cl will be reduced to Cl-and further combined with Ag to reform AgCl after photodegradation of organic pollutants. Novel Ag/AgCl-glass may lead to promising applications in buildings, air purification and antibacterial fields.