Ag/AgI modified Bi2Zr2O7 nanosheets with excellent photocatalytic activity

Novel visible-light response Ag/AgI/Bi2Zr2O7 composites were successfully prepared firstly by a wet chemical route and subsequently a precipitation-photoreduction process. The SEM and TEM results revealed that a number of Ag/AgI nanoparticles are assembled on the surface of the Bi2Zr2O7 nanosheets. The HRTEM, DRS and XPS results determined the formation of Ag0 in the photoreduction process. The visible-light photocatalytic activities of the as-prepared samples were evaluated by the degradation of MO aqueous solution. And the Ag/AgI/Bi2Zr2O7 composites exhibited excellent photocatalytic activities, which results from the surface plasmon resonance effects of metallic Ag and the formation of a heterostructure between Ag/AgI and Bi2Zr2O7.