AgV7O18: A new silver vanadate semiconductor with photodegradation ability on dyes under visible-light irradiation

A new silver vanadate semiconductor AgV7O18 was prepared via the hydrothermal synthesis method. The sample crystallized in typical nanorods with a big length/diameter ratio and large specific surface area. The detailed band structures were reported. AgV7O18 nanorods have small band energy of 1.837 eV with indirect allowed electronic transitions. The narrowed band-gap is due to the hybridization between the Ag-d and O-p states in the valence band. The photocatalysis was investigated by photo-degradation of Rhodamine-B (RhB) irradiated by visible light. AgV7O18 has efficient photodegradation on RhB. The photocatalysis was discussed according to the band energy positions and the trapping experiments.