Ag2CO3 sensitized TiO2 nanoparticles prepared in ionic liquid medium: A new Ag2CO3/TiO2/RTIL heterostructure with highly efficient photocatalytic activity

• Modification of TiO2 photocatalyst prepared in ionic liquid medium with Ag2CO3.
• Ag2CO3/TiO2/RTIL was synthesized via loading Ag2CO3 on TiO2/RTIL.
• Ag2CO3/TiO2/RTIL showed excellent photocatalytic activity for AB92 degradation.
• Ag2CO3 flower-like particles strongly sensitized TiO2 to absorb visible light.
• Ag2CO3 coupling with TiO2 greatly extend the lifetime of charge carriers.

A visible light active Ag2CO3/TiO2/2-hydroxylethylammonium formate (RTIL) nanocomposite has been synthesized via loading Ag2CO3 flower-like particles on TiO2/RTIL by a simple precipitation method. TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by the modified sol–gel method using 2-hydroxylethylammonium formate (RTIL) as an ionic liquid. The prepared photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform-infra red spectroscopy (FTIR) and Diffuse reflectance UV–vis spectroscopy (DRS) techniques. The photocatalytic performance of the synthesized photocatalysts was investigated by the photodegradation of acid blue 92 (AB92) dye under both visible and UV light irradiations. It was divulged that the Ag2CO3/TiO2/RTIL heterostructure noticeably exhibited an improvement in both efficiency and rate of AB92 photodegradation in comparison with both TiO2 samples. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of Ag2CO3/TiO2/RTIL nanocomposite is mainly attributed to the promoted absorption of light and more efficient suppression of charge carrier recombination. The possible mechanism for the improved photocatalytic properties of the Ag2CO3/TiO2/RTIL nanocomposite was also discussed.

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