Fabrication of Ag-modified porous ZnMgO nanorods with enhanced photocatalytic performance

Abstract

A series of Ag-modified porous ZnMgO nanorods (Ag/ZnMgO NRs) photocatalysts were prepared using a solvothermal method followed by a calcination treatment. The ZnMgO NRs showed a porous rod-like structure. Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully loaded on the ZnMgO NRs to form a heterostructure. The rod-like structure of ZnMgO NRs was not affected after the modification with Ag NPs. The photocatalytic degradation performance under white light irradiation showed that 3% of Ag-modified porous ZnMgO NRs presented the highest photocatalytic performance, which can achieve the completely degradation of Rhodamine B and norfloxacin in only 20 min and 10 min, respectively. The improved photocatalytic performance of Ag/ZnMgO NRs is attributed to the key role of Ag NPs, which can effectively reduce the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes and accelerate the transfer of photogenerated charge carriers, thus promoting the photocatalytic reaction process.