One-pot synthesis of Ag/β-Ni(OH)2 flower microspheres with enhanced photocatalytic performance

In this article, three-dimensional (3D) Ag/β-Ni(OH)2 flower microspheres were synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method in the presence of l-arginine. The results suggest that this biomolecule-assisted hydrothermal method is an efficient route for the fabrication of Ag/β-Ni(OH)2 flower microspheres by using l-arginine as both a shape controller and a reducing agent of silver ions. The as-synthesized products were characterized by X-ray power diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The photocatalytical activity of the Ag/β-Ni(OH)2 flower microspheres was also investigated by UV–Vis spectrophotometer. And the results display enhanced photocatalytic activity in degradation of methylene blue.

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► Three-dimensional Ag/β-Ni(OH)2 structures were synthesized via a simple method.
► The results suggest that the biomolecule-assisted method is an efficient route.
► The samples display enhanced photocatalytic activity in degradation of methylene blue.