Room temperature synthesis and photocatalytic property of AgO/Ag2Mo2O7 heterojunction nanowires

AgO/Ag2Mo2O7 heterojunction nanowires were synthesized at temperatures of 25 °C, 50 °C, 80 °C, and 110 °C, under magnetic stirring in solution reaction. The catalytic activity of AgO/Ag2Mo2O7 nanowires was evaluated by the degradation of Rhodmine B dye under the irradiation of the simulated sunlight. The synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffractometer, energy dispersive spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectrometer, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the AgO nanoparticles are attached on the surface of the Ag2Mo2O7 nanowires to form a heterojunction structure. The length of the nanowires is up to 10 μm and the size of the AgO nanoparticles is 10–20 nm. The length of nanowires increases with increasing reaction time and temperature while the AgO particles are gradually embedded into the nanowires. The photocatalytic activity is greatly improved for the AgO/Ag2Mo2O7 heterojunction nanowires compared with that of the pure Ag2Mo2O7 nanowires, indicating a remarkable role of AgO particles on the Ag2Mo2O7 nanowires in the photodegradation.

The AgO nanoparticles are attached on the surface of the Ag2Mo2O7 nanowires to form a heterojunction structure. The AgO nanoparticles start embedding into the nanowires with increasing reaction temperature or time.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► AgO/Ag2Mo2O7 heterojunction NWs were synthesized at room temperature for the first time.
► AgO particles embed into the Ag2Mo2O7 NWs with increase in reaction time and temperature.
► The heterojunction NWs display much better photocatalytic activity than the none-heterojunction NWs.
► The catalytic mechanism was proposed.