Enhanced photocatalytic activity of β-AgVO3 nanowires loaded with Ag nanoparticles under visible light irradiation

• Novel SVO nanomaterials for photocatalytic degradation BPA under visible light irradiation.
• Ag/AgVO3 was visible-light-sensitive photocatalyst.
• Ag/AgVO3 was effective and stable after using 8 cycles.
• Hydroxyl radicals played a key role in the photocatalytic degradation reaction.

A novel composite nanomaterial of Ag/AgVO3 was prepared and the photocatalytic activity for the degradation of bisphenol A was investigated under visible light irradiation. Experimental results showed that Ag/AgVO3 exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than bare β-AgVO3 under visible light irradiation. The degradation efficiency of BPA by Ag/AgVO3 could reach 100% within 150 min. The obvious enhancement of photocatalytic activity by Ag nanoparticles could be attributed to the synergetic effects between noble metal and semiconductor. Furthermore, hydroxyl radicals (OH) played a key role in the photocatalytic reaction and a possible mechanism of the synergistic system was proposed.

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