Ag-decorated Bi2O3 nanospheres with enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic activities for water treatment

Uniform Ag/Bi2O3 nanocomposites with different amounts of Ag were prepared via the deposition precipitation method. Compared with Bi2O3 nanosphere supporters, Ag/Bi2O3 nanocomposites exhibit highly enhanced visible-light-driven Cr(VI) photoreduction activity and photocatalytic bacteria inactivation. Accordingly, the effects that influence the photocatalytic activity of Ag/Bi2O3 nanocomposites were investigated through analyzing its optical properties, photoluminescence, and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). It was found that the decorated Ag nanoparticles could improve the visible-light adsorption, electron-hole separation efficiency, surface oxygen vacancies and the production of reactive oxygen species of Ag/Bi2O3 nanocomposites, resulting in enhanced photocatalytic performance. This study not only demonstrates that Ag/Bi2O3 could be a promising visible-light-response photocatalyst for water treatment, but it also provides an ideal strategy for improving photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation.