Decoration of SnO2 nanosheets by AgI nanoparticles driven visible light for norfloxacin degradation

Abstract

Photocatalytic activity of photo-catalysts could be enhanced through many parameters. Along these parameters, segregation of the holes from the photo-generated electrons which could be considered an essential one. This issue could be attained via deposition of the co-catalysts over the surface of the semiconductor. In this investigation, the hydrothermal technique has been carried out to prepare nanosheets of SnO2. After that, SnO2 nanosheets were decorated by various contents of AgI nanoparticles (5–20%). the resultant AgI/SnO2 nanocomposites were subjected to photo-catalytic efficacy evaluation which were correlated with those of neat SnO2 as well as AgI for norfloxacin degradation upon Visible light irradiation. The obtained data proved that AgI nanoparticles content is considered an important aspect in improving the photo-catalytic efficiency of SnO2. It was shown that 15% AgI-dopant could be used as an optimum percent. Evidently, the photocatalytic efficiency of 15% AgI/SnO2 nano-composite was about 1.43 and 33.3 times larger than the photocatalytic efficiencies of pure AgI and SnO2, respectively. Moreover, AgI/SnO2 nanocomposite containing 15% AgI showed higher photocatalytic stability. The existence of AgI nanoparticles as cocatalyst may be the main explanation for the modification of the photo-catalytic efficiency of the AgI/SnO2 photo-catalyst. In fact, AgI nanoparticlaes facilitate adequate segregation of the charge carriers of SnO2 rather than the enlargement of the surface area and the decreasing of the band gap.