Abstract
A composite heterogeneous photocatalyst based on silver bromide was prepared by a reaction of silver exchanged zirconium phosphate (ZrP) and HBr. The ZrP/AgBr composite containing 53 wt% AgBr was tested in the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and exhibited higher catalytic activity with respect to pure AgBr. As a matter of fact, the time needed to achieve a percentage of chromophore cleavage of about 90% was 3 min for the composite versus the 30 min needed for pure AgBr. The ZrP/AgBr composite turned out to be stable for at least three consecutive cycles. The UV-Vis spectra of the RhB solution, recorded at different irradiation times, were also decomposed and the concentration of the species formed by de-ethylation and cleavage processes during photocatalysis were calculated; the data obtained for the AgBr-based catalysis were also compared with those for the AgCl-based catalysis, and the degradation mechanism was suggested for both catalytic systems.
Highlights
Composite materials are obtained by combining two or more materials with different properties, with the aim of obtaining novel systems in which the single components work together to obtain new and unique properties [1]
Heterogeneous composite catalysts can be made of one catalytic active species supported on a solid matrix or consist of two active species combined together in order to promote specific interactions that achieve an enhancement of the catalytic activity
Nanocrystalline silver exchanged zirconium phosphate (ZrP) was employed for the precipitation of AgBr particles
Summary
Composite materials are obtained by combining two or more materials with different properties, with the aim of obtaining novel systems in which the single components work together to obtain new and unique properties [1]. Composite materials are often used to improve the catalytic efficiency of one or both components In this regard, heterogeneous composite catalysts can be made of one catalytic active species supported on a solid matrix or consist of two active species combined together in order to promote specific interactions that achieve an enhancement of the catalytic activity. Several authors evaluated and compared the behavior of different silver halides in photocatalysis They found that the partial chemical reduction of Ag(I) ions from the AgX crystal lattice led to the formation of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) and, of Ag@AgX heterojunctions which improve the visible light absorption by the photocatalysts thanks to the surface plasmon resonance of the Ag. NPs [9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16]. Comparisons with the performances of pure AgCl and of a similar ZrP/AgCl system were reported
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