Controlled Microstructure of Ag/AgBr-AC Synergistic Enhancement on Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline: A Synthesis Approach Comparison

Abstract

The controlled microstructure of plasmonic Ag/AgBr has enormously influenced their potential application in environmental remediation. On this basis, Ag/AgBr-AC (activated carbon) nanocomposites were synthesized by thermal polyol and template assisted routes, and then their photocatalytic activities on the degradation of tetracycline under visible light were further investigated. The synthesized nanocomposites microstructure, structural, optical and electrochemical properties were determined using analytical techniques. From the analysis results, the Ag/AgBr nanoparticles were distributed evenly on the AC surface without agglomeration with an average particle size between 160 and 190 nm and possess {111} exposed facets of AgBr NPs. Due to the exceptional uniform nanospheres shape, smaller particle size, speedier interfacial separation of photogenerated charge carriers, the Ag/AgBr-AC nanocomposite from thermal polyol route displays superior catalytic performance on tetracycline as compared to the nanocomposite from template assisted route and Ag/AgBr alone. AC synergistic interaction with Ag/AgBr NPs in this study significantly enhances charge transfer, the creation of active sites for the generation of reactive species and boosts the stability of plasmon K1 in the photocatalytic process. A plausible photocatalytic mechanism on enhanced degradation of tetracycline is proposed.