Enhanced broad spectrum (vis-NIR) responsive photocatalytic performance of Ag2O/rectorite nanoarchitectures

Although semiconductor/clay photocatalysts have attracted great attention because of their special structures, it is still challenging to achieve higher efficiency under broad spectrum light, even near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation. Herein, we reported the synthesis of wide-spectrum light responsive Ag2O/rectorite (Ag2O/R) nanocomposites via a simple chemical precipitation method. The experimental results showed that Ag2O nanoparticles were properly loaded on rectorite and the nanocomposites exhibited superior photocatalytic activity in the presence of visible light and near-infrared light irradiation. Compared to pure Ag2O and rectorite, 70% Ag2O/rectorite nanocomposite exhibited the highest photocatalytic performance for the degradation of RhB and MO in aqueous solution under visible light and NIR irradiation. Moreover, the Ag2O/rectorite nanocomposites exhibited the highest stability after five recycled photocatalytic degradation experiments under visible and NIR light. Based on the radical trapping experiment, it was found that center dot O-2(-) is active radical species in photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in the presence of visible light and NIR irradiation. Finally, a possible photocatalytic degradation mechanism of pollutants by Ag2O/R nanocomposite was proposed. The current work would offer strong potential in the implementation of clay-based photocatalysts with wide-spectrum light response and be valuable for environmental remediation.