Synthesis of BiVO4/MWCNT/Ag@AgCl composite with enhanced photocatalytic performance

A series of novel and facile quaternary composite BiVO4/MWCNT/Ag@AgCl were synthesized through hydrothermal and in situ oxidization method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Brunauer Emmett Teller surface area (BET), and Raman scattering spectroscopy were utilized to characterize the as-mentioned quaternary composite. The catalytic performance of the composite was investigated by the degradation of 5 mgL−1 rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation (λ ≥ 420 nm). The weight ratio of Ag and the mole ratios of Ag to AgCl in the composite can influence the photocatalytic performance. When the weight ratio of Ag is 20% and the mole ratio of AgNO3 to FeCl3 is 4: 1, the catalyst exhibits much superior visible light catalytic activity than pure BiVO4 and it can decompose 99% of RhB in 100 min.