Microwave hydrothermal synthesis of AgInS2 with visible light photocatalytic activity

AgInS2 nanoparticles with superior visible light photocatalytic activity were successfully synthesized by a microwave hydrothermal method. This method is a highly efficient and rapid route that involves no organic solvents, catalysts, or surfactants. The photocatalytic activity of AgInS2 nanoparticles was investigated through the degradation of dyes under visible light irradiation. Compared with TiO2−xNx, AgInS2 has exhibited a superior activity for photocatalytic degradation MO under the same condition. The experiment results showed that superoxide radicals (O2−), hydrogen peroxides (H2O2) and holes (h+) were the mainly active species for the degradation of organic pollutants over AgInS2. Through the determination of flat band potential, the energy band structure of the sample was obtained. A possible mechanism for the degradation of organic pollutant over AgInS2 was proposed.

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► AgInS2 nanoparticles were synthesized by a microwave hydrothermal method.
► This method involves no organic solvents, catalysts, or surfactants.
► AgInS2 showed higher activity for photocatalytic degradation MO than TiO2−xNx.
► Holes, O2−, and H2O2 played an important role in the photocatalytic process.