Synthesis of novel Z-scheme AgI/Ag/AgBr composite with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity

Novel Z-scheme Agl/Ag/AgBr composite was synthesized through a facile in-situ ion exchange method along with light reduction. The as-prepared Agl/Ag/AgBr was characterized by XRD, SEM, DRS, XPS, EDS, BET and PL technology to study its phase structures, morphologies, optical properties, element components and surface areas. Agl/Ag/AgBr displayed excellent photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methyl orange under visible light (lambda > 420 nm), which can be ascribed to the efficient separation of photogenerated electrons and holes through Z-scheme system composed of AgI, Ag and AgBr. The photocatalytic mechanism investigation demonstrates that center dot O-2(-) was the main reactive species for methyl orange (MO) degradation. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.