Synthesis of TiO2−xNy/Ag–PbMoO4 nanocomposites: An effective approach for photoinactivation of green tide under simulated solar light

•Sonochemical method is a potential technique for the synthesis of nanoparticles.•TiO2−xNy/Ag–PbMoO4 nanocomposite was prepared by sonochemical method.•Photoinactivation of tide was carried out under simulated solar light.•Nanocomposites showed the highest photocatalytic activity.

The TiO2−xNy/Ag–PbMoO4 nanocomposites were prepared by sonochemical method. The as-prepared powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and diffuse reflectance UV–vis spectroscopy (UV–vis-DRS). The results revealed that the band gap energy absorption edge of TiO2−xNy/Ag–PbMoO4 nanocomposites red shifted as compared to TiO2−xNy and Ag–PbMoO4. According to FE-SEM studies, Ag–PbMoO4 gets to be decorated with evenly distributed TiO2−xNy nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2−xNy/Ag–PbMoO4 nanocomposites for photoinactivation of green tide (Tetraselmis suecica) under simulated solar light was enhanced as compared with TiO2−xNy and Ag–PbMoO4. The TiO2−xNy/Ag–PbMoO4 nanocomposites showed the highest percentage (100%) of removing of Tetraselmis suecica after 25 min. The TiO2−xNy/Ag–PbMoO4 nanocomposite may facilitate the charge transfer process more efficiently by inhibiting electron–hole recombination, which enhanced the photocatalytic activity.

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