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Synthesis and characterization of robust Ag2S/Ag2WO4 composite microrods with enhanced photocatalytic performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 August 2016

Hongbo He ,
Shuangshuang Xue ,
Zhen Wu ,
Changlin Yu ,
Kai Yang ,
Lihua Zhu ,
Wanqin Zhou  and
Renyue Liu
Hongbo He
Affiliation:
School of Metallurgy and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
Shuangshuang Xue
Affiliation:
School of Metallurgy and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
Zhen Wu
Affiliation:
School of Metallurgy and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
Changlin Yu*
Affiliation:
School of Metallurgy and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
Kai Yang
Affiliation:
School of Metallurgy and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China; and State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, Fujian, China
Lihua Zhu
Affiliation:
School of Metallurgy and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
Wanqin Zhou
Affiliation:
School of Metallurgy and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
Renyue Liu
Affiliation:
School of Metallurgy and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
*
a) Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: yuchanglinjx@163.com
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Abstract

A series of Ag2S/Ag2WO4 composite microrods with different Ag2S contents (10–50 wt%) were synthesized via a facile successive precipitation route. The texture and optical properties of the pure Ag2S, Ag2WO4, and Ag2S/Ag2WO4 composites were intensively characterized by some physicochemical characterizations like N2 physical adsorption, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and photocurrent measurements. Under visible light irradiation, different organic dyes, e.g., methylene blue and methyl orange dye were applied to evaluate the photocatalytic performances by their photocatalytic degradation reactions. The Ag2S/Ag2WO4 composite microrods exhibited superior photocatalytic activity and stability. The high crystallinity of Ag2WO4 and improved texture properties of Ag2S/Ag2WO4 resulted in their enhanced photocatalytic property. More importantly, the Ag2S/Ag2WO4 heterojunctions with matching electronic band structures obviously enhanced the separation of photo‐generated electrons and holes, further promoting the photocatalytic reaction.

Keywords

microcrodsAg2SAg2WO4heterojunctionphotocatalytic activity
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 31 , Issue 17 , 14 September 2016 , pp. 2598 - 2607
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Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2016 

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