Synthesis of highly efficient visible light Ag@Ag3VO4 plasmonic photocatalysts

Highly efficient visible light photocatalysts Ag@Ag3VO4 were synthesized by a soft-chemical route. Due to the surface modification of Ag3VO4 by silver nanoparticles, the absorption in the visible region of the as-prepared photocatalyst Ag@Ag3VO4 was greatly enhanced by surface plasmon resonance effect. The phase structures of the as-prepared samples were confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy was employed to study the optical properties of Ag@Ag3VO4. Application of the as-prepared Ag@Ag3VO4 in photocatalysis was also studied. The results showed that Ag@Ag3VO4 was a highly efficient and stable visible light active photocatalyst in the photodegradation of organic pollutants.

► Plasmonic photocatalysts Ag@Ag3VO4 were synthesized with soft-chemical route.
► The Ag@Ag3VO4 photocatalyst exhibited visible light photocatalytic property.
► The mechanism relies on the plasmonic effect of Ag NPs on the surface of Ag3VO4.