Direct sunlight responsive Ag–ZnO heterostructure photocatalyst: Enhanced degradation of rhodamine B

• Enhanced sunlight photocatalytic activity was observed for the heterostructure.
• Effects to photocatalytic activity have been investigated in detail.
• The Ag–ZnO heterostructure catalyst can be reused at least four cycles.
• Photocatalytic mechanisms Ag–ZnO heterostructure has been presented.

The catalytic activity of Ag–ZnO heterostructure on the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B was investigated. It demonstrated that Ag–ZnO heterostructure exhibited an enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to pure ZnO nanoparticles under direct sunlight. The possible factors to the photocatalytic acitivity of the sample were explored, including Ag content, dispersity and calcination temperature. It was shown that the sample dispersed by PVP, with 5% mol ratio Ag content, calcined at 400 °C showed the highest photocatalytic acitivity and this catalyst was reusable.

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